Chhattisgarh sees record 103 naxalites, including 22 women, surrender with Rs 1 crore+ bounties

Bijapur: 103 Naxalites, including 22 women, surrendered to authorities in Bijapur district on Thursday. Among them, 49 were carrying bounties totalling more than Rs 1 crore, marking one of the largest mass surrenders by Left-wing extremists in Chhattisgarh in a single day.

The surrendered belonged to the banned CPI (Maoist), citing growing disillusionment with the “hollow” Maoist ideology and internal conflicts within the organisation. Bijapur Superintendent of Police Jitendra Kumar Yadav stated that the Naxalites were also impressed by the government’s development initiatives in the Bastar region.

The cadres said they were particularly impressed by "Poona Margem (Rehabilitation for Social Reintegration) - a rehabilitation initiative launched by Bastar Range police for Naxalites, 'Niyad Nellanar' (your good village) scheme of the Chhattisgarh government aimed at facilitating development works in remote villages, and the state administration's new surrender and rehabilitation policy, the SP noted.

Who are the high-profile cadres among those surrendered?

Of them, Lachhu Punem alias Santosh (36), a divisional committee member of Maoists, Guddu Farsa (30), Bhima Sodhi (45), Hidme Farsa (26) and Sukhmati Oyam (27), all platoon party committee members, were carrying a reward of Rs 8 lakh each, he informed. Among others, four Naxalites were carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh each, 15 cadres a bounty of Rs 2 lakh each, ten a reward of Rs 1 lakh each, 12 cadres a reward of Rs 50,000 each, and three a bounty of Rs 10,000 each, he said.

The number of RPC (Revolutionary Party Committee) members of Maoists among those who surrendered is high. They decided to quit the Left-wing extremist movement after several Maoist leaders were either killed by security forces or surrendered in the recent past, Yadav said.

With this, 410 Naxalites have surrendered in Bijapur district so far this year, while 421 others have been arrested, the SP stated.

"Terms of the government's rehabilitation policy have been encouraging Maoists to shun violence. The families of those who surrender also want them to live a normal life and integrate with society," the SP affirmed, urging Maoists to return to mainstream society.

All the surrendered Naxalites were provided an immediate assistance of Rs 50,000 each and will be rehabilitated as per the government's policy, police said.

PTI inputs