Balaghat, MP: In a major boost to Madhya Pradesh’s anti-Naxal campaign, a 23-year-old woman Maoist, Sunita, surrendered before the security forces in Balaghat district — marking the first surrender under the State’s new Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy (2023).
Sunita, a native of Bijapur district in Chhattisgarh, was an active cadre of the GRB Division (Gondia–Rajnandgaon–Balaghat), a critical segment of the Maoist MMC Zone that spans Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.
Former Bodyguard to Top Maoist Leader Ramder
According to police sources, Sunita had been working as a bodyguard to senior Maoist leader and Central Committee member, Ramder, and also served as an Area Committee Member (ACM).
She carried a combined reward of ₹14 lakh — ₹6 lakh announced by Maharashtra, ₹3 lakh by Chhattisgarh, and the remaining by Madhya Pradesh.
Surrender at Hawk Force Camp
On the night of November 1, 2025, Sunita walked into the Chauriya camp of the State’s elite Hawk Force, expressing her intent to surrender and join the mainstream.
After surrendering unarmed, she assisted security forces in locating a Maoist hideout deep inside the forests, which led to the recovery of an INSAS rifle, three magazines, and a UBGL shell.
Officials said her surrender marks a symbolic and strategic success for the State’s counter-insurgency efforts and could encourage other Maoists operating in the MMC Zone to follow suit.
CM Mohan Yadav Lauds Security Forces
Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav hailed the surrender as a testament to the government’s strong resolve to eradicate Left-Wing Extremism.
He said, “This surrender is the result of effective police action and the Centre’s strong stand against Naxalism. It’s also the first time since 1992 that an out-of-state Maoist has surrendered in Madhya Pradesh.”
The Chief Minister added that ten Maoists carrying a combined bounty of ₹1.5 crore have been neutralized this year in operations led by the Hawk Force and other security agencies.
Rehabilitation Pathway for Surrendered Cadres
Dr. Yadav reaffirmed the State’s commitment to providing structured rehabilitation opportunities for those who choose peace over violence.
“Those who surrender will be rehabilitated. Those who don’t must be ready to face action,” he said, underscoring the State’s two-pronged strategy of firmness and reform.
A Possible Turning Point for the MMC Zone
Security analysts suggest Sunita’s surrender could become a catalyst for further Maoist disengagement in the Gondia–Rajnandgaon–Balaghat corridor, one of the most sensitive stretches in the MMC Zone.
While it remains to be seen whether more Maoists will follow, officials believe the combination of sustained operations and an attractive rehabilitation policy could gradually weaken the insurgent network.
