Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district witnessed a significant surrender event on Monday, as 15 Naxalites, including nine with a collective bounty of Rs 48 lakh, laid down their arms. This influx of former militants, comprising five women and PLGA members, signifies a crucial success for the state’s security forces and development agenda.
Senior police and CRPF officials met with the surrendered individuals, who cited the Chhattisgarh government’s progressive development and rehabilitation policies as the main catalyst for their decision. They specifically mentioned the positive impact of initiatives like the ‘Niyad Nellanar’ scheme, aimed at improving village infrastructure, and the ‘Poona Margham’ surrender and rehabilitation policy, designed for social reintegration.
The surrendered group included several key figures. Four prominent PLGA members, Madvi Sanna (28) and his spouse Sodi Hidme (25), and Suryam alias Ravva Soma (30) with his wife Meena alias Madvi Bhime (28), each carried a bounty of Rs 8 lakh. Other surrenders included individuals with bounties of Rs 5 lakh (two), Rs 3 lakh (one), Rs 2 lakh (one), and Rs 1 lakh (one).
Each surrendering cadre was provided with an immediate financial incentive of Rs 50,000 as part of the rehabilitation process. The government remains committed to their long-term reintegration into society through existing welfare programs. This surrender is reflective of a larger trend; over the past 23 months, more than 2,150 Naxalites have surrendered in Chhattisgarh, attributing their change of heart to the impact of these constructive government initiatives.