In a significant development for security forces in Chhattisgarh, a total of 63 Maoist cadres laid down their weapons in the Dantewada district on Friday. This mass surrender, one of the largest in recent times for the Bastar region, marks a crucial success for the state government's rehabilitation policy.
High-Value Surrenders Under Rehabilitation Scheme
The surrender took place under the state's 'Puna Margeim' rehabilitation and surrender policy. Police officials confirmed that among the 63 individuals, a substantial number were senior and mid-level operatives carrying cash rewards on their heads. Thirty-six of the surrendered Maoists had combined bounties totalling a staggering Rs 1.2 crore, indicating their importance within the insurgent hierarchy.
The group included divisional committee members, area committee members, and militia platoon commanders. They were reportedly active across a wide swathe of territory, including the Darbha division, South Bastar, West Bastar, the Marh region, and adjoining areas of Odisha. The cadres hailed from the districts of Dantewada, Sukma, Bijapur, and Narayanpur.
Details of the Bounties and Key Cadres
Dantewada Superintendent of Police Gaurav Rai provided a detailed breakdown of the rewards. Seven cadres each carried a bounty of Rs 8 lakh. They were identified as:
- Pradeep Oyam
- Mohan Azad Kadti
- Sumitra Chapa
- Hungi Lekam
- Sukhram Tati
- Pandu Madkam
- Somdu Kadti
The remaining bounties were distributed among other surrendered individuals. Seven others had rewards of Rs 5 lakh each, eight had Rs 2 lakh each, eleven had Rs 1 lakh each, and three carried bounties of Rs 50,000 each. This cumulative figure underscores the operational blow dealt to the Maoist network in the region.
Strategic Timing and National Security Context
The surrender comes at a strategically important time. Police authorities noted that this development occurs just months ahead of the Central government's March 31 deadline to eliminate left-wing extremism from the country. Such large-scale surrenders are seen as critical to achieving this goal, as they demoralize the remaining cadres and provide intelligence to security forces.
The 'Puna Margeim' scheme, which offers a path to mainstream society for insurgents, appears to be gaining traction. This event in Dantewada is likely to be viewed as a major victory for both state and central security policies aimed at curbing Maoist violence in the heartland of India.
