In a significant development for security forces in Chhattisgarh, a total of twenty-eight Naxalites laid down their arms and surrendered before senior police officials in the Narayanpur district on Tuesday. This group, which included nineteen women, represented a substantial blow to the Maoist structure in the region.
Key Operatives and Cumulative Bounties
The surrendered cadres were collectively carrying a hefty reward of Rs 89 lakh on their heads. Among them were twenty-two individuals with specific bounties. The most prominent were four senior operatives, each with an Rs 8 lakh reward.
Pandi Dhruv alias Dinesh (33), a divisional committee member, and Dule Mandavi alias Munni (26), along with Chhattis Poyam (18) and Padni Oyam (30), all hailed from the Maoists’ Military Company No. 6 of the East Bastar division.
Furthermore, six other individuals – Lakhmu Usendi (20), Sukmati Nureti (25), Sakila Kashyap (35), Shambatti Shori (35), Chaite alias Rajita (30), and Budhra Rava (28) – each had bounties of Rs 5 lakh assigned to them. In a symbolic gesture, Dinesh, Lakhmu, and Sukmati also surrendered weapons, including a Self Loading Rifle (SLR), an INSAS rifle, and a .303 rifle.
Drivers Behind the Mass Surrender
According to Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj Pattilingam, the group's decision was motivated by a combination of government and police initiatives. They specifically cited the state government's 'Niyad Nellanar' (your good village) development scheme, the new surrender-and-rehabilitation policy, and the Bastar police’s “Poona Margham” programme, which focuses on social reintegration.
IGP Pattilingam stated that this trend indicates a significant shift on the ground. "The rehabilitation of 28 Maoist cadres in Narayanpur indicates that the end of the violent and anti-people Maoist ideology is near. People are reposing faith in the ‘Poona Margham’ initiative and choosing the path of peace and dignity," he said.
A Growing Trend Towards Mainstream
The surrender in Narayanpur is not an isolated incident but part of a larger wave. Pattilingam revealed that over the last 50 days, more than 512 cadres have chosen to join the mainstream across the seven districts of the Bastar range.
Narayanpur SP Robinson Guria provided further context, stating that Tuesday's event brings the district's own tally for the year to 287 cadres who have given up arms. He issued a strong message, suggesting that senior Maoist leaders—including politburo member Devji, central committee member Ramdar, and Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee members Pappa Rao and Barse Deva—now have "no option but to renounce violence and join the mainstream."
This event contributes to a larger statistic: police officials confirmed that approximately 2,200 Naxalites, including top operatives, have surrendered in Chhattisgarh over the past 23 months, marking a critical phase in the region's long-standing conflict.
