51 Naxalites surrender in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur under rehabilitation initiative

In a significant development in Chhattisgarh’s anti-Naxal efforts, as many as 51 Naxalites, including nine women and 20 carrying a collective bounty of ₹66 lakh, surrendered before the police in Bijapur district on Wednesday, officials said.

According to Superintendent of Police (SP) Jitendra Kumar Yadav, the cadres decided to abandon violence and return to the mainstream after being influenced by the state government’s rehabilitation policy and ongoing development initiatives in the region. The surrender was carried out under the ‘Poona Margem – Punarwas se Punarjeevan’ (Path of Peace – Rehabilitation for Social Rebirth) scheme, launched by the Bastar Range Police to encourage Maoists to reintegrate into society.

Among those who surrendered were five members of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) battalion number 01 and company numbers 01, 02, and 05; seven area committee and platoon members; three members of the Local Organisation Squad (LOS); one militia platoon commander; 14 militia platoon members; and 20 lower-rung cadres, the SP said.

Yadav added that the decision of these cadres to return to the mainstream represents a major boost to the ongoing efforts to restore normalcy in the Bastar region. He said the initiative offers financial support, livelihood opportunities, and social rehabilitation to surrendered cadres, helping them begin a new life.

Since January 2024, Bijapur district has recorded 650 surrenders, 196 Maoists neutralised in encounters, and 986 arrests, reflecting steady progress in the state’s peace and rehabilitation mission. Officials said such mass surrenders are expected to strengthen security, build public confidence, and facilitate long-term peace and development in the Bastar division.