As many as 103 Naxalites, including 22 women and 49 cadres carrying a collective bounty of more than ₹1 crore, surrendered before authorities in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh on Thursday, police confirmed.
The cadres laid down arms before senior police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officials. Bijapur Superintendent of Police Jitendra Kumar Yadav said the Maoists cited disappointment with the “hollow” ideology of the CPI (Maoist) and internal differences within the banned outfit.
Rehabilitation Schemes Encouraged Surrender
SP Yadav said this was among the largest-ever surrenders by Left-wing extremists in a single day in the state. He added that the cadres were particularly influenced by development initiatives in the Bastar region, including the Poona Margem (Rehabilitation for Social Reintegration) programme launched by Bastar Range police, the state government’s Niyad Nellanar (“your good village”) scheme for remote villages, and the new surrender and rehabilitation policy.
Among those who surrendered were several Maoist leaders carrying high rewards: Lachhu Punem alias Santosh (36), a divisional committee member (₹8 lakh bounty) Guddu Farsa (30), Bhima Sodhi (45), Hidme Farsa (26), and Sukhmati Oyam (27), all platoon party committee members (₹8 lakh each).
Additionally, four Naxalites had bounties of ₹5 lakh, 15 carried rewards of ₹2 lakh, ten had ₹1 lakh, 12 carried ₹50,000, and three had ₹10,000 on them.
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Rising Numbers of Surrenders in Bijapur
According to SP Yadav, the number of Revolutionary Party Committee (RPC) members among the surrendered group was high. Many decided to abandon the movement after key Maoist leaders were killed in encounters or surrendered recently.
With this development, 410 Naxalites have surrendered in Bijapur district so far this year, while 421 others have been arrested.
“Terms of the government’s rehabilitation policy have been encouraging Maoists to shun violence. The families of those who surrender also want them to live a normal life and integrate with society,” Yadav stated, urging others to return to the mainstream.
All surrendered Naxalites have been given immediate assistance of ₹50,000 each and will be rehabilitated under the state government’s policy, officials said.
