Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Nov 30: In one of the largest surrenders in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada, 37 Maoists, including 27 with combined bounties of Rs 65 lakh, have renounced violence and chosen to reintegrate into society under the Lon Varratu and Poona Margem (Revival through Rehabilitation) initiatives, officials confirmed on Sunday.

All the surrendered cadres cited their faith in the state government’s rehabilitation policy as the key reason for abandoning armed struggle and returning to the social mainstream. The initiative, led by senior officers from the Chhattisgarh Police and CRPF, has been gaining traction among cadres weary of jungle life.

High-Level Oversight and Rehabilitation Support

The surrenders took place at the DRG office in Dantewada in the presence of top officials including DIG Dantewada Range Kamalochan Kashyap, DIG (Territory) CRPF Dantewada Rakesh Chaudhary, SP Dantewada Gaurav Rai, and Commandants of CRPF battalions.

Under the Poona Margem rehabilitation policy, the surrendered Maoists will receive:

• Rs 50,000 financial assistance
• Skill development training
• Agricultural land and additional support from the state government

Significant Seizures and Female Participation

Among the surrendered were 12 female Maoists, and authorities recovered a substantial cache of weapons, ammunition, and explosives, marking a major setback for the Maoist network in Bastar. Many of the surrendered cadres had been operating in the forests for years, with some carrying bounties of up to Rs 5 lakh and serving as bodyguards or squad members of senior Maoist commanders.

Impact on Bastar’s Peace and Security

Dantewada SP Gaurav Rai noted, “Our persistent efforts, coupled with local community support, have led to this outcome. The Maoists are admitting that living in the forests has become increasingly difficult, and villagers are no longer supporting them.”

The surrenders are part of a larger trend: over the past 20 months, more than 508 Maoists, including 165 with bounties, have joined the mainstream in Dantewada, ranging from senior leaders to active cadres in core areas.

Officials described Sunday’s event as a decisive step toward a violence-free Bastar, reinforcing the transformative potential of the government’s rehabilitation and peace initiatives in the region.