15 Maoists Surrender in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada, Marking Major Win for Rehabilitation Efforts

Dantewada – In a major boost to Chhattisgarh’s anti-insurgency and rehabilitation initiatives, 15 Maoists—including five with cash bounties totaling ?17 lakh—surrendered before senior police and CRPF officials in Dantewada district on Thursday.

The surrender is being hailed as a significant success under the ongoing ‘Lon Varratu’ and ‘Puna Margem’ campaigns in the insurgency-hit Bastar region.

Among those who surrendered were high-ranking Maoist operatives such as Budhram alias Lalu Kuharam (?8 lakh reward), Kamli alias Moti Potavi (?5 lakh), Pojja Madkam (?2 lakh), and two women cadres—Aayate alias Sangeeta Sodi and Pandey Madvi—each carrying a ?1 lakh bounty, said senior police officer Udit Pushkar.

The surrendered couple, Budhram and Kamli, were reportedly involved in numerous violent attacks on security forces and had been active in Maoist ranks for over 20 years.

The surrender took place in the presence of Superintendent of Police Gaurav Rai, DIG Kamlochan Kashyap, and CRPF officer Rakesh Chaudhary. The officials reaffirmed the government's commitment to reintegrating former Maoists into society through its revised rehabilitation policy.

Under the policy, surrendered Maoists are provided with skill development training, psychological counselling, self-employment support, and security assurances. Since the launch of these initiatives, a total of 1,020 Maoists have surrendered across Bastar, including 254 with declared rewards.

The latest group of surrendered cadres hail from the districts of Dantewada, Sukma, Bijapur, and Narayanpur, comprising 824 men and 196 women.

Launched in 2020, the ‘Lon Varratu’ campaign—meaning ‘Come Back Home’ in the local Gondi dialect—aims to encourage Maoists to give up arms and return to mainstream life. The ‘Puna Margem’ initiative complements this by providing structured rehabilitation and livelihood opportunities.

Officials attribute the growing number of surrenders to consistent outreach, community engagement, and a rising awareness among Maoist cadres about the futility of armed conflict. Many former rebels cited internal exploitation, harsh living conditions in the forest, and disillusionment with the movement’s ideology as reasons for their decision.

Authorities have appealed to remaining insurgents to follow suit, emphasizing that the path of peace, dignity, and development remains open to those who are willing to reconcile.

This latest wave of surrenders is being seen not just as a tactical victory, but as a clear sign of changing attitudes in Bastar’s long struggle against extremism.

With inputs from IANS