22 Maoists, including nine women, have surrendered to security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district.
Among them, 12 individuals carried bounties amounting to Rs 40.5 lakh. Officials cite growing disillusionment with Maoist ideology and increasing influence of the state government’s development policies as the key motivators behind the surrender.
The surrendered cadres were active members of the Maoist divisions operating in Chhattisgarh and Odisha. They turned themselves in to senior police officials and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), marking a significant shift in the region’s insurgency dynamics.
According to Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan, the surrendered individuals were deeply disappointed with Maoist ideology and the atrocities inflicted on local tribal communities. He further highlighted how initiatives like the ‘Niyad Nellanar’ scheme and the government’s revised surrender policy played a role in encouraging them to abandon extremism.
Among the surrendered Maoists were senior cadre members, including Muchaki Joga, a deputy commander, and his wife Muchaki Jogi, both carrying rewards of Rs 8 lakh each. Additionally, two area committee members, Kikid Deve and Manoj alias Dudhi Budhra, carrying rewards of Rs 5 lakh each, have also given up arms.
These former insurgents will now undergo rehabilitation under the government’s surrender program, receiving Rs 50,000 as immediate assistance. This move aligns with the broader trend in the Bastar region, where a total of 792 Maoists have surrendered in the past year across seven districts, including Sukma.
Officials remain hopeful that the government’s intensified developmental efforts will continue encouraging more Maoists to reintegrate into mainstream society.
