In a significant development aimed at curbing left-wing extremism, 15 Naxalites surrendered to security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district. The group, which included five women and members of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), was carrying a combined bounty of Rs 48 lakh, with nine individuals being specifically listed as wanted.
Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan confirmed that the surrendered cadres held meetings with senior police and CRPF personnel. The former militants articulated that they were motivated to surrender due to the state government’s focused efforts on development and rehabilitation. They specifically pointed to the ‘Niyad Nellanar’ scheme, which promotes infrastructure development in underdeveloped regions, and the ‘Poona Margham’ policy, which facilitates social reintegration for surrendering individuals.
The surrendered group featured several highly-sought after individuals. Madvi Sanna (28) and his wife Sodi Hidme (25), alongside Suryam alias Ravva Soma (30) and his wife Meena alias Madvi Bhime (28), were identified as hardcore PLGA members, each with an individual bounty of Rs 8 lakh. The remaining cadres included individuals with bounties of Rs 5 lakh (two), Rs 3 lakh (one), Rs 2 lakh (one), and Rs 1 lakh (one).
As part of the government’s surrender policy, each cadre received an immediate financial assistance of Rs 50,000. Further support for their reintegration into society is being provided through existing government programs. This mass surrender is indicative of the success of Chhattisgarh’s strategy, which has seen over 2,150 Naxalites surrender in the state over the last 23 months, a testament to the growing effectiveness of development and rehabilitation measures.