Kerlapenda in Chhattisgarh goes Naxal-free as 16 cadres lay down arms

Sukma: Sixteen Naxalites, including six carrying a total cash reward of Rs 25 lakh, surrendered in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district on Monday, according to police.

Of the 16, nine cadres were residents of Kerlapenda village panchayat, located under Chintalanar police station limits. With their surrender, the village has now been declared Naxal-free, making it eligible for Rs 1 crore worth of development projects under a new state government scheme, an official confirmed.

‘Disillusionment with Maoist ideology’

All the surrendered Naxalites, including a woman, turned themselves in before senior police and CRPF officials in Sukma. Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan said the decision stemmed from their disenchantment with the "hollow" and "inhuman" Maoist ideology and frustration over atrocities committed by ultras on local tribals.

“The cadres were also impressed by the Chhattisgarh government’s ‘Niyad Nellanar’ (your good village) scheme, which aims to facilitate development in remote areas, as well as the new surrender and rehabilitation policy,” Chavan stated.

Top-rung Maoists among those surrendered

Among the surrendered were several high-profile cadres:

• Rita alias Dodi Sukki (36), a member of the central regional committee (CRC) company no. 2 of the Maoists, and
• Rahul Punem (18), a party member within PLGA battalion no. 1.
• Both carried cash rewards of Rs 8 lakh each.

Additionally, Lekam Lakhma (28) had a bounty of Rs 3 lakh, while three other cadres carried rewards of Rs 2 lakh each.

Rs 1 crore development boost under new policy

The surrender of the nine Naxalites from Kerlapenda enabled the village to be declared free of Maoist activity. Under the Elvad Panchayat Yojna, part of the Chhattisgarh Naxal Surrender/Victim Relief and Rehabilitation Policy-2025, such villages will receive Rs 1 crore for development works upon passing a resolution declaring themselves Maoist-free.

This makes Kerlapenda the second village panchayat in the district to achieve this status since the scheme was introduced. In April, Badesatti was declared Naxal-free after 11 lower-rung Naxalites from there surrendered.

Financial assistance and rehabilitation

Each of the 16 surrendered Naxalites was granted Rs 50,000 as initial assistance. They will also be rehabilitated as per the provisions of the state’s policy, the SP added.

Last year, a total of 792 Naxalites surrendered in the Bastar region, which includes seven districts such as Sukma.