In a significant development in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district, 21 Maoist operatives, comprising 13 women, laid down their arms and surrendered to authorities on Sunday. This voluntary surrender was a direct result of the ‘Poona Margem: Rehabilitation through Reintegration’ initiative, spearheaded by the Bastar Range police. The surrendered cadres presented a total of 18 weapons to the police, a haul that included high-caliber firearms. Specifically, the recovered arms consist of three AK-47s, two INSAS rifles, four SLR rifles, six .303 rifles, and two single-shot rifles, as well as a Barrel Grenade Launcher (BGL). The surrendering group featured prominent figures, including Division Committee Secretary Mukesh, and members from divisional and area committees, underscoring the importance of this surrender for dismantling Maoist infrastructure. Their previous operational base was the Kuemari/Kiskodo Area Committee under the Keshkal Division. This success highlights the effectiveness of the police’s strategy in encouraging Maoists to leave the movement.
