Bijapur (Chhattisgarh): In a significant development, 52 Maoists surrendered to authorities in Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh, on Thursday. The surrendered cadres carried a combined bounty of Rs 1.41 crore, highlighting the scale of their return to the mainstream. This marks another major milestone in the state’s ongoing anti-Maoist operations and rehabilitation efforts.
Officials said the surrendered group included 21 women and 31 men, hailing from the South Sub-Zonal Bureau, AOB division, and the Bhamragarh area committee. The cadres held varied ranks, including one Divisional Committee Member, five company commander or PPCM rank members, 10 Area Committee Members, and eight division and bureau party members. Several others operated at platoon, area committee, militia, and mass organisation levels.
Immediate Rehabilitation and Financial Assistance
Following the surrender, the district administration immediately initiated the rehabilitation process. The Chhattisgarh state government provided each surrendered cadre with financial assistance of Rs 50,000 under its rehabilitation policy.
Bijapur Superintendent of Police Dr. Jitendra Kumar Yadav urged remaining active Maoists to abandon violent and misleading ideologies and return to the mainstream. He highlighted the Poona Margem policy, aimed at ensuring a safe, dignified, and self-reliant future for surrendered cadres.
Bounties Reflecting Leadership Roles
The surrendered cadres carried individual bounties ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 8 lakh. Among the highest-rewarded members were Lakkhu Karam alias Anil, Lakshmi Madvi alias Ratna, and Chinni Sodhi alias Shanti, each with a bounty of Rs 8 lakh. Other notable cadres, including Bhima Karam, Vishnu Mandavi alias Kiran alias Moti, Moti Korsa, and Hungi Karam alias Anjali, carried rewards of Rs 5 lakh each.
The list also included several cadres with bounties of Rs 2 lakh and Rs 1 lakh, reflecting their varied ranks and roles within the Maoist organisation. Two individuals, Mallesh Karam alias Bhima and Sudesh Uika alias Munna, surrendered without declared bounties.
Ongoing Decline of Maoist Influence
Since January 1, 2024, a total of 876 Maoists have surrendered in Bijapur district. During the same period, security forces arrested 1,126 Maoists and neutralised 223 in encounters. This trend reflects the weakening and deteriorating state of the Maoist movement in the region.
The surrender in Bijapur comes a day after 29 Maoists surrendered in Sukma district on January 14. The Sukma cadres operated in the Gogunda area, with one, Podiyam Budhra, serving as DAKMS president and carrying a bounty of Rs 2 lakh.
Path Towards Ending Naxalism and Regional Development
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has stated that Naxalism is likely to be eradicated from Bharat by March 31, 2026. The surrender of cadres from Bijapur and Sukma is a significant step toward this goal.
With the weakening of the Maoist movement, the Dandakaranya region is expected to benefit from increased development initiatives. Infrastructure projects, social welfare programs, and economic development plans will be implemented, positively impacting local communities and improving access to education, healthcare, and livelihood opportunities.
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