Ten Naxalites carrying a collective reward of Rs 65 lakh surrendered to security forces in Chhattisgarh, marking a significant setback for the extremist movement in the Bastar region.
Among those who surrendered was Chaitu alias Shyam Dada, a senior Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) member with a Rs 25 lakh bounty. Chaitu, long considered one of the masterminds behind the 2013 Jhiram Valley attack that killed 27 people, including top Congress leaders, had been leading the Darbha division of CPI (Maoist) for several years. Police officials described him as one of the most active commanders along the Chhattisgarh–Telangana border.
Other cadres who surrendered included divisional committee member Saroj alias Urmila, who carried an Rs 8 lakh reward, along with active members Sahayak Ram, Prakash, Kamlesh, and Janani alias Raymati Kashyap.
Officials stated that relentless “anti-Naxal” operations by DRG, Bastar Fighters, CRPF, and other security forces, combined with recent large-scale surrenders of senior Maoist leaders, prompted the decision. The surrender also reflects growing internal divisions within the outlawed outfit and the success of coordinated security and development outreach programs.
All ten cadres surrendered before senior police and district administration officials in Sukma, expressing their desire to join the mainstream.
According to official data, Chhattisgarh recorded 237 Left Wing Extremist (LWE) killings, 812 arrests, and 723 surrenders since January 2024. Authorities believe these developments signal a weakening of Maoist influence in the region.
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