A wave of surrenders swept through Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, as 41 Naxalites, comprising 12 women, voluntarily laid down their arms. The significant number of high-value targets among them, with 32 individuals carrying a collective reward of Rs 1.19 crore, signals a major success for law enforcement agencies.
The surrendered cadres were deeply entrenched within the Maoist hierarchy, with most belonging to the South Sub-Zonal Bureau. Their association spanned critical Naxalite bodies such as the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee and the Telangana State Committee. Officials confirmed their surrender to senior police officers, who assured them of rehabilitation and a secure future within democratic India.
Inspired by the government’s ‘Poona Margham’ initiative and its comprehensive rehabilitation package, these rebels have chosen a path away from violence. The economic incentives under the state’s policy, including an immediate Rs 50,000 for each surrendered cadre, provide a tangible reason for this shift. The presence of multiple cadres with rewards ranging from Rs 8 lakh down to Rs 1 lakh underscores the importance of this surrender for disrupting Naxal operations in the region. This event continues a trend, with over 790 cadres surrendering in Bijapur since early 2024.