Bijapur, Chhattisgarh – A major blow has been dealt to Maoist insurgency in Chhattisgarh with the surrender of 41 cadres in Bijapur district. The group, which included 12 women, turned themselves in to senior police officials on Wednesday. Significantly, 32 of these individuals were wanted with a combined bounty of Rs 1.19 crore, signifying their importance within the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) and related Maoist structures.
Sources indicate that the decision to surrender was driven by the appeal of the Chhattisgarh government’s progressive surrender and rehabilitation policy, coupled with the Bastar police’s ‘Poona Margham’ program. This initiative focuses on providing a path to social reintegration and a secure future for those wishing to leave the armed struggle.
The surrendered cadres were integral to various Maoist operations and command structures. Thirty-nine were directly linked to the South Sub-Zonal Bureau, playing roles within the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee, Telangana State Committee, and key regional divisions. Their ranks included PLGA battalion members, company operatives, area committee operatives, platoon commanders, and militia members.
The financial value of the surrendered insurgents underscores their former roles; nine individuals were each declared with an Rs 8 lakh bounty. Other bounties ranged from Rs 5 lakh down to Rs 1 lakh. Upon surrender, each cadre received an initial payment of Rs 50,000 as part of the rehabilitation package. This event contributes to a larger success story, as over 790 Maoist cadres have surrendered in Bijapur since the start of 2024, indicating a shifting tide against the movement in the region.