Chhattisgarh: 26 Maoists carrying Rs 64 lakh bounty surrender in Sukma

RAIPUR: Twenty-six Maoists, including mid-level commanders accused in some of south Bastar’s deadliest attacks and collectively carrying a reward of ₹64 lakh, laid down arms in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district on Wednesday under the state’s “Puna Margeim: rehabilitation to new life” campaign. The surrendered cadre include seven women and members of PLGA battalion number 1, South Bastar division, Marh division and the Andhra–Odisha Border (AOB) zone. Police described it as another “historic surrender” that further weakens the underground network in one of the last remaining Maoist strongholds.Those who surrendered hold ranks ranging from CYPCM (central youth provincial committee member) and DVCM (divisional committee member) to PPCM (party people’s committee member), ACM (area committee member) and others. Sukma SP Kiran Chavan said that many of them are alleged to have been involved in major attacks in Sukma, Abujhmarh and adjoining parts of Odisha. SP said the 26 cadres hail largely from Jagragunda, Bhejji, Konta, Tongpal and other interior pockets of Sukma and neighbouring Bijapur, and belong mostly to the Muria tribal community. Several have spent over a decade in the underground organisation, moving through roles in village-level fronts, militia units, local organisation squads, divisional supply and agriculture teams, and armed platoons.Under the 2025 surrender and rehabilitation policy, each of the surrendered Maoists will receive an immediate incentive of ₹50,000, in addition to their declared reward amounts and other rehabilitation benefits such as assistance for housing, livelihood and reintegration.Officials reiterated that for those still underground, “the only option left” is to shun violence, accept peace and development, and join the mainstream life. Police said the group includes cadres linked to:2017 IED blast on the Sonabeda–Koraput road in which 14 security personnel were killed;2020 Minpa forest ambush in Sukma that left 17 personnel dead;2021 Teklaguda attack where 22 jawans were killed; and2023 ambush in Jagragunda area in which three jawans were killed.