The Kanker district in Chhattisgarh has witnessed a major blow to Maoist activities with the surrender of 21 cadres, 13 of whom are women. The surrender took place on Sunday under the Bastar Range police’s ‘Poona Margem’ initiative, designed to encourage former insurgents to return to civilian life. The group came forward and handed over a total of 18 weapons to the police. This impressive haul of surrendered arms includes advanced firearms such as three AK-47s, two INSAS rifles, and four SLR rifles, alongside six .303 rifles and two single-shot rifles. A Barrel Grenade Launcher (BGL) was also among the surrendered items, indicating the cadres’ previous operational capabilities. The surrendered Maoists included high-ranking members such as Division Committee Secretary Mukesh, along with several divisional and area committee members, and others from subordinate levels. Their affiliation was with the Kuemari/Kiskodo Area Committee of the Keshkal Division. This latest surrender underscores the effectiveness of the rehabilitation policies in the region.
