Daijiworld Media Network - Sukma
Sukma, Jan 14: As many as 29 Naxalites surrendered before the police in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district on Wednesday, dealing another blow to the outlawed CPI (Maoist) network in the region.
The surrendered cadres, all active members of various frontal wings of the Maoists, laid down arms before senior police and CRPF officials under the state’s ‘Poona Margem’ initiative, which focuses on rehabilitation and social reintegration, Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan said.
According to the SP, the ultras were influenced by the state government’s surrender and rehabilitation policy. Among them was Podiam Budhra, the head of the Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisan Majdoor Sangthan (DAKMS) in the Gogunda area, who was carrying a reward of Rs 2 lakh on his head. The remaining cadres belonged to the DAKMS, militia and Janatana Sarkar wings of the Maoist organisation.
Chavan said the recent establishment of a security camp in the remote Gogunda area played a key role in the surrender. Intensified anti-Naxal operations, sustained pressure and continuous search drives following the camp’s setting up significantly restricted Maoist movement and activities in the region.
The Gogunda area, known for its difficult terrain, was earlier considered a strategic stronghold of the Maoists’ Darbha division. However, the official said the security camp effectively dismantled their base, weakening not only their armed presence but also their support system in the division.
Appealing to other Maoist cadres to give up violence, Chavan assured them of security and a dignified life if they choose to join the mainstream.
The latest surrender comes close on the heels of similar developments in the Bastar region. As many as 63 Naxalites surrendered in neighbouring Dantewada district on January 8, while 26 cadres laid down arms in Sukma on January 7. More than 1,500 Naxalites surrendered across Chhattisgarh in 2025 alone.
The Centre has reiterated its resolve to eradicate Naxalism from the country by March 31 this year.