In a major success for the security forces grappling with the Maoist challenge in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar, a couple associated with the banned CPI Maoist have turned themselves before the authorities and surrender in Dantewada on Tuesday, August 13.
The surrender took place before the Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Dantewada, Ram Kumar Burman and other officials where seasoned Maoist cadre Bhima alias Pawan Mandavi, a member of the Malangir Area Committee of the outlawed group along with his wife Vimla announced their return to the mainstream.
Both Bhima and Vimla were associated with the banned group for a decade and were carrying a cumulative bounty of Rs 7 lakhs on their heads. Bhima was active as an area committee member, he had also been incharge of militia and was carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh, informed ASP Burman
Bhima’s wife Vimla Madkam was a member of platoon no 31, She was carrying a reward of Rs 2 lakh as announced by the government. Both the surrendered cadres will be provided with an immediate financial assistance of Rs 25000 each, added Burman.
Lone Varatu Campaign
Notably, the surrender has taken place under the flagship Lone Varatu (An appeal to homecoming in Gondi dialect) campaign being jointly undertaken by the police and the administration in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh’s Bastar division.
The campaign launched in the year 2020 with an aim to outreach the local youths who were part of the Maoist outfit and wanted to make a return in the mainstream have turned out to be a major success for the security forces ensuring homecoming of 861 former cadres including 193 carrying rewards.
It is worth mentioning here that the security forces along with the administration have amplified their efforts in containing the Maoist insurgency in the state in line with the “National Policy and Action Plan” launched by the incumbent Union Government in the year 2015.
The comprehensive strategy chalked out by the government to contain the insurgency includes of holistic development of remote region, providing basic amenities to the locals and opening of security forces to contain the spread of the Maoist insurgents.
The resolute implementation of the policy has resulted in consistent decline in violence linked to Maoists which has reduced by 73% as compared to all time high of 2010. Further the geographical spread of the Maoists has also constricted substantially with reduction of Maoist affected districts from 126 in 2013 to 38 in 2024, as informed by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai in parliament recently.
