34 Maoist Cadres with Rs. 84 Lakh Bounty Surrender in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur

Raipur/Bijapur: In a major success for anti-Naxal operations, as many as 34 Maoist cadres, including seven women, surrendered before senior police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officials in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh on Tuesday. The surrendered ultras carried a combined reward of ?84 lakh on their heads.

The surrendered cadres are largely associated with the South Sub-Zonal Bureau and also include members linked to the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC), Telangana State Committee, and the Andhra-Odisha Border (AOB) Division.

Among them were key Maoist functionaries, including a Divisional Committee Member (DVCM) of the Keralapal Area Committee carrying a bounty of ?8 lakh, several members of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), Area Committee Members (ACMs), platoon leaders, militia commanders, and office-bearers of frontal organisations such as DAKMS and CNM.

Citing disillusionment with Maoist ideology and internal exploitation, the cadres pledged allegiance to the Indian Constitution and expressed their desire to lead peaceful lives. Under the state’s rehabilitation policy, each surrendered cadre was provided an immediate assistance of ?50,000, police officials said.

The surrender followed sustained joint operations and outreach efforts by the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Bastar Fighters, Special Task Force (STF), CoBRA units, and CRPF battalions. Officials said the Chhattisgarh government’s “Puna Margam: Rehabilitation to Rejuvenation” campaign, aimed at reintegrating former Maoists into mainstream society, along with the “Niyad Nellanar” scheme delivering development benefits to remote villages, played a crucial role in motivating the surrender.

Bijapur Superintendent of Police Jitendra Kumar Yadav appealed to remaining Maoist cadres to give up violence, assuring them of a secure and dignified future under government policies. He emphasised that most families of Maoists desire a return to normalcy and peace.

Since January 2024, Bijapur district has witnessed more than 800 Maoist surrenders, along with several arrests and encounters, reflecting intensified counter-insurgency operations. Across Chhattisgarh, thousands of Maoists are reported to have surrendered in 2025, significantly weakening insurgent networks in the Bastar region.

Officials attributed the success to proactive security measures, trust-building initiatives, and welfare-driven governance, which have helped transform fear and alienation into dialogue and development in South Bastar. Rehabilitation and legal formalities for the surrendered cadres are currently underway, marking another step towards lasting peace in Naxal-affected areas of the state.

With inputs from IANS