Thirty-seven Maoists — including 27 individuals carrying a combined bounty of ₹65 lakh — have surrendered before senior police and CRPF officials in Dantewada, Chhattisgarh, marking another significant setback for the Naxalite movement in the region. The group, which includes 12 women, laid down arms at the District Reserve Guard (DRG) office and expressed their intention to rejoin mainstream society under the state’s rehabilitation programme.
Dantewada Superintendent of Police Gaurav Rai said the surrender took place under the “Poona Margem” (Path to Peace) campaign, designed to reintegrate former Maoists through welfare and development initiatives. He noted that the combined impact of sustained security operations in 2024–25, frequent encounters, and attractive rehabilitation benefits has prompted hundreds of cadres to abandon the insurgency. In Dantewada alone, 508 Maoists — including 165 with reward money — have surrendered in the last 20 months.
Among the high-value cadres who surrendered on Sunday were Kumali alias Anita Mandavi, Geeta alias Lakshmi Madkam, Ranjan alias Soma Mandavi, and Bhima alias Jahaj Kalmu, each carrying a reward of ₹8 lakh. Under Chhattisgarh’s rehabilitation policy, every surrendered cadre will receive ₹50,000 in immediate financial assistance along with access to skill development training, agricultural land and livelihood support.
Multiple security agencies — including the DRG, Bastar Fighters, Special Intelligence Branch Dantewata, CRPF’s 111th and 230th battalions, and RFT Jagdalpur — played a crucial role in facilitating the surrenders. Officials said many of the former Maoists were involved in serious attacks in recent years, while others handled logistical tasks like digging roads, felling trees and putting up posters during Naxal bandh calls.
Officials indicated that the recent surrender is part of a larger trend. More than 2,200 Maoists have surrendered across Chhattisgarh in the past 23 months, including several top leaders, signalling a steady erosion of the Naxal movement’s strength. The Government of India has set a target of eliminating Naxalism nationwide by March 2026 through a mix of security operations, welfare schemes and development in affected districts.
Police have issued a renewed appeal to the remaining insurgents to give up arms, stressing that the door remains open for dialogue and peaceful reintegration through the Poona Margem initiative. Authorities said they remain committed to expanding development and ensuring long-term stability in the Bastar region.
