Chhattisgarh: 34 Naxals surrender in Bijapur; carried Rs 84 lakh reward

NEW DELHI: Thirty-four Naxals surrendered in Bijapur district, authorities said. The surrendered Maoist cadres carried a combined reward of Rs 84 lakh, according to the Bijapur Police.The group included 34 Maoists from the South Sub-Zonal Bureau—seven women and 27 men. It also included members from the Telangana State committee and the Andhra-Odisha Border division. This shows that the government’s rehabilitation program extends beyond district and state borders. The surrender took place under the state government’s initiative, “Poona Margham: Punarvas Se Punarjeevan” (Return to the Mainstream: Social Reintegration through Rehabilitation). The program focuses on reintegrating former extremists and providing support for their return to normal life. Officials said the move reflects the effect of steady anti-Naxal policies and trust-building efforts.Bijapur district has seen progress in recent months. Since January 1, 2024, 824 Maoists have surrendered, 1,079 have been arrested, and 220 have been killed in separate encounters. Officials said this is the result of a balanced approach combining security action with rehabilitation, employment support, and social reintegration. Authorities added that former cadres who leave violence are welcome back into society.In Sukma district, Peddabodkel village is now seeing a government presence for the first time since independence. The CRPF inaugurated a camp on December 10. Villagers, who once traveled long distances for basic services, now have access to healthcare, roads, electricity, and clean water.Sukma Range CRPF DIG Anand Singh Rajpurohit said, "You will see that the Peddabodkel camp, which has been opened, is to secure the route from Narsapuram to Raigudem. With the opening of the camp, development will accelerate in the surrounding villages. Electricity, roads, and water - all these facilities will be available. The work of the district administration will also progress. We will provide Aadhaar cards and all other facilities inside the camp."