Daijiworld Media Network - Sukma

Sukma, Apr 19: In a significant development for Chhattisgarh’s anti-Naxal campaign, 22 Naxalites, including nine women and several high-ranking operatives, surrendered to security forces in Sukma on Friday. The group included 12 individuals carrying a collective bounty of ?40.5 lakh and were formerly active in Maoist strongholds across the Maad region of Chhattisgarh and Nuapada division in Odisha.

The surrender took place in the presence of senior police officials and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel. The Naxalites cited growing disillusionment with the Maoist ideology and the group’s treatment of tribal communities as key reasons behind their decision to abandon the movement. They also expressed appreciation for the Chhattisgarh government’s ‘Niyad Nellanar’ (Your Good Village) scheme and the newly reformed surrender and rehabilitation policy.

Among the prominent figures was Muchaki Joga, a deputy commander in the PLGA’s Company No. 1, and his wife Muchaki Jogi. Both were considered high-value targets and carried a reward of ?8 lakh each. Other notable names included Kikid Deve and Manoj alias Dudhi Budhra, area committee members with ?5 lakh rewards. Seven of the surrendered Naxalites carried bounties of ?2 lakh, while another had a ?50,000 reward on his head.

According to Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan, the group had participated in several operations against security forces. Their surrender was made possible through a coordinated effort by the district police, DRG, CRPF, and the elite CoBRA unit. Each surrendering individual received ?50,000 in immediate assistance and will be further supported under the state’s reintegration initiatives.

The development follows a growing trend in the Bastar region, where 792 Naxalites laid down arms in 2023 alone. Authorities hope this wave of surrenders will continue, signaling a shift toward peace and development in previously insurgency-hit areas.