Bijapur district in Chhattisgarh has witnessed a substantial surge in peace efforts with the surrender of 51 Maoist cadres to security forces. A remarkable aspect of this event is that 20 of the surrendered individuals were carrying a combined bounty of Rs 66 lakh, indicating their previous importance within the Naxalite hierarchy. The group included nine women, signaling a growing trend of female cadres seeking a return to normalcy. The success is attributed to the Chhattisgarh government’s commitment to rehabilitation and development in the affected areas, as stated by Bijapur’s Superintendent of Police. The cadres were motivated by the success of the ‘Poona Margem – Punarwas se Punarjeevan’ program, initiated by the Bastar Range Police to encourage Naxalites to embrace a life free from violence. Among the surrendering members were operatives from critical Maoist formations like PLGA battalion 01, area committees, and local squads. Their decision to leave the armed struggle is expected to significantly disrupt the operational capabilities of Maoist groups in the region. Since the beginning of 2024, Bijapur has recorded a total of 650 Maoist surrenders, alongside numerous arrests and neutralizations.
Bijapur Sees Major Maoist Surrender: 51 Cadres Join Mainstream
By The Chhattisgarh1 Min Read