Representative Image of Maoism in Chhattisgarh, Curtsey: TNW
In a major breakthrough for security forces in insurgency-hit Chhattisgarh, as many as 26 cadres of the proscribed Communist Party of India Maoist (CPI Maoist) have turned themselves before the police and surrendered in Dantewada district on Monday, April 15, informed authorities.
The surrender took place under the flagship “Lone Varatu” campaign (An appeal for homecoming in the Gondi dialect to the local cadres associated with the outlawed group) being jointly undertaken by the administration and the security forces in Dantewada district.
“Those who have surrendered were all part of the banned CPI Maoist and were fed up with the anti-development, anti-people hollow ideology of the insurgents”, said Superintendent of Police (SP), Dantewada, Gaurav Rai in a press briefing.
Anti-Naxal operations are being carried out and we have achieved some remarkable success in the last 10 months. A total of 26 Maoists, including one cadre carrying a reward, surrendered today under the Lone Varatu campaign, those who have surrendered were inspired by the State government’s surrender and rehabilitation policy, added SP.
While terming the development as a significant one as it has occurred on a day on which the Maoist outfit has given a call for a shutdown, Rai further informed that those who have surrendered will be provided with financial assistance of Rs 25000 each as per the State government surrender and rehabilitation policy.
He further informed that those who have surrendered hails from separate places such as Aranpur, Katekalayan, Mirtur of Bijapur etc. and were engaged in several unlawful activities on behalf of the Maoist group. ” I would also like to take this opportunity to make an appeal to the Maoist cadres to follow suits of those who have joined the mainstream.” added Rai.
It has been learned that other than the district police, the Central Reserve Police Force has also played a vital role in motivating these Maoist to shun the path of violence and choose a life of dignity in the mainstream.
String of Surrenders
It must be noted that the recent offensive campaigns and strengthening of the security forces in Bastar region, earlier considered a hotbed of left wing insurgency, has exaggerated a huge amount of pressure on the Maoist outfit, leading to arrest, killing and surrender of scores of insurgents.
Recently, as many as six cadres of the banned Maoist have also surrendered before the police in Sukma district on Saturday, April 13. The surrender included of four lower rung cadres, along with two female Maoists carrying a collective reward of Rs 3 lakhs, who joined the mainstream citing disappointment with the extremist’s ideology.
The surrender took place under the “Poona Narkom” (Meaning New Dawn in local Gondi dialect) campaign, another flagship initiative being jointly run by the police and the administration in Maoist affected Sukma district.
Earlier, in another similar development reported from Sukma itself, two hardcore Maoists carrying a collective reward of Rs 16 lakhs had also surrendered before the police on April 5. Those who had surrendered were identified as Kalmu Prakash alias Sannu and Pedekam Rita, both carrying a bounty of Rs 8 lakhs each on their heads.
Kalmu was reportedly active with the Kistaram area committee and was carrying sophisticated weapons like AK-47. As per the reports, he was also involved in several acts of violence, including the infamous Burkapaal and Minpa encounters, where a number of security personnel were martyred.
It is worth mentioning here that most of the surrenders that have taken place in the Maoist affected Bastar have occurred under flagship campaigns like “Poona Narkom” and “Lone Varatu,” which are turning out to be a success stories for the forces in the hinterlands of Chhattisgarh.
As per the statistics shared by the police, as many as 717 former Maoist cadres, including a total of 176 who were carrying a reward, have so far joined the mainstream by shunning the path of violence under the Lone Varatu campaign itself.
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