Daijiworld Media Network - Raipur
Raipur, Jul 13: In a major breakthrough for Chhattisgarh’s anti-Naxal campaign, 23 Maoists, including high-ranking commanders with a combined bounty of Rs 1.18 crore, surrendered before senior police and CRPF officials in Sukma district on Saturday. Among them were several key operatives linked to deadly attacks and abductions, marking a significant dent in the insurgent network operating in the Bastar region.
Top Surrenders and Background
One of the most high-profile surrenders was that of Podiam Bhima alias Lokesh, a Divisional Committee Member (DVCM) and commander of the South Sub-Zonal Bureau, who had an Rs 8 lakh bounty. He was implicated in major Maoist offensives, including the 2012 abduction of Sukma’s first collector Alex Paul Menon, the 2017 Burkapal ambush, and the 2021 Tekalguda encounter, which together claimed 46 security personnel.
Also among the surrendering Maoists were:
• Ramesh alias Kamalu, personal security guard of top Maoist leader Madvi Hidma (who carries a Rs 1 crore reward).
• Madvi Joga, security for BNPC Raje alias Rajakka.
• Nuppo Lachu, the guard of SZCM Sannu Dada.
• Four Area Committee Members (ACMs), and six People’s Party Committee Members (PPCMs).
• Several cadres from PLGA Battalion No. 1, the Maoists’ most feared military wing.
Officials said these operatives had intimate knowledge of Maoist strategy and structure, making them valuable sources for intelligence gathering.
Chief Minister Hails 'New Bastar'
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai described the development as a defining moment in Bastar’s transformation. “The echoes of gunfire are fading, replaced by the steady voice of democracy,” he posted on X. He cited the cumulative 45 surrenders in the past 24 hours, including those in Narayanpur, as proof of growing faith in the government’s outreach and development-driven strategy.
“The number of Maoists who have surrendered over the past 15 months has reached 1,521, driven by a desire for peace, opportunity, and inclusion,” the Chief Minister said. He credited the success to policies like Niyad Nellnar and the revamped 2025 Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy, which offers housing, education, vocational training, and ?50,000 immediate assistance to surrendering cadres.
Cracks in the Insurgency
The surrender underscores a deepening crisis of confidence within Maoist ranks. Officials attribute the shift to disillusionment with extremist ideology, internal factionalism, and the atrocities committed against tribal communities—many of whom these operatives come from.
This coordinated surrender also included:
• Four ACMs: Muchaki Ranauti, Kalmu Dula, Dudhi Mangali, and Siddharth alias Madvi Inda (each with Rs 5 lakh rewards).
• Lower-level cadres: Hemla Rama (Rs 3 lakh) and others like Sodi Hidme, Kawasi Joga, Rupa alias Bhime, and Gagan alias Kartam Dudwa (each with Rs 1 lakh rewards).
• Key PLGA operatives like Podiyam Sukhram, Dudhi Bhima, and Parsaki Pandey.
A Turning Point?
Security officials view these developments as a significant weakening of the Maoist network’s grip in Bastar. The back-to-back high-profile defections, combined with the strategic implementation of state-led welfare programs, point to a tactical shift toward peacebuilding.
The 23 surrendered cadres will now be rehabilitated under state policy, with special attention to integration into mainstream society. With continued focus on targeted governance and grassroots development, officials believe Chhattisgarh is inching closer to realizing the goal of a Naxalism-free state.