Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district witnessed a major breakthrough against left-wing extremism on Wednesday, with 41 Naxalites choosing to surrender. This group includes 12 women and a significant number of individuals who were wanted by authorities, carrying a combined bounty of Rs 1.19 crore. The surrender is seen as a testament to the success of the state’s rehabilitation policies and local police initiatives.
These 41 individuals were reportedly part of various wings of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) and other Maoist formations. Notably, 39 of them were linked to the South Sub-Zonal Bureau, indicating a substantial impact on the organizational structure of the Naxal movement in the region. They surrendered before senior police officials, expressing a commitment to lead peaceful lives under the Indian Constitution.
The surrendered cadres will benefit from the state’s rehabilitation policy, receiving immediate incentives. The bounty amounts varied, with nine individuals each carrying Rs 8 lakh, and others having rewards of Rs 5 lakh, Rs 2 lakh, or Rs 1 lakh. The Superintendent of Police highlighted the ‘Poona Margham’ drive as a key factor, encouraging rebels to return to mainstream society. This surrender adds to the growing number of cadres abandoning violence, with Bijapur alone reporting 790 such instances since the start of 2024.