108 Maoist cadres of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee surrendered in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar Division Headquarters, renouncing violence under the Poona Margem: Rehabilitation to Regeneration initiative.
Senior police officers, central security forces, district administration representatives, and community leaders attended the ceremony. The event showcased one of the largest collective surrenders in recent years and highlighted the growing success of rehabilitation-focused strategies in conflict-hit regions.
Authorities confirmed that surrendered cadres provided crucial information leading to the largest cache recovery in India’s anti-Naxal operations. Security forces seized arms, ammunition, and materials from multiple districts, including Bijapur. Officials displayed the recovered caches at the Range Headquarters in Jagdalpur, symbolising both disarmament and transformation.
Officials emphasised that the initiative focuses on dismantling insurgent infrastructure while creating pathways for reintegration and sustainable livelihoods. They explained that the Poona Margem model offers former insurgents a dignified route back into society while simultaneously weakening Maoist operational strength.
The surrender of 108 cadres, combined with the historic cache recovery, marked a turning point in Bastar’s struggle against Maoist insurgency. The day’s proceedings blended rehabilitation with decisive operational gains, signalling a new chapter in the government’s efforts to restore peace and stability in one of India’s most conflict-affected zones.
