New Delhi: 63 Maoists surrender before authorities in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district, marking another step forward in security forces campaign to end Maoist-insurgency from the state by March this year.
A total of 45 male members, along with 18 female cadres announced to part ways with the proscribed CPI (Maoist) in presence of senior officials of police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on January 9. The surrender took place under the Poona Margem initiative of the government.
As per officials, 36 among those who give up arms on Friday were carrying a cumulative bounty of Rs 1 crore 19 lakhs on their heads. Those surrendered were members of separate units, including Darbha division, Maad division and west Bastar division of the outlawed group.
“We are running a campaign in the Bastar division, as part of the rehabilitation program of the Chhattisgarh government, which appeals to the Naxalites to surrender and join the mainstream. Today, 63 Naxals have surrendered, out of which 36 are wanted Naxals. 18 women and 45 men have surrendered. Total bounty on them amounts to around Rs 1.19 crores,” said Superintendent of Police Dantewada, Gaurav Rai
#WATCH | Dantewada, Chhattisgarh | Dantewada SP Gaurav Rai says, "We are running a campaign in the Bastar Division, as part of the rehabilitation program of the Chhattisgarh government, which appeals to the Naxalites to surrender and join the mainstream. Today, 63 Naxals have… https://t.co/lnGcepGp6O pic.twitter.com/yvlExKU8q8
— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2026
“The Naxal organisation is in its final stages. The remaining leaders and members are either being killed in encounters or are surrendering. As part of its rehabilitation policy, the Chhattisgarh government is giving a prize money of Rs 50000 to those who surrender and decide to join the mainstream. They are being provided skill training,” he added.
According to reports, three of the surrendered cadres, Paaklu alias Pradip, Sumitra and Mohan alias Sanjay were active as divisional committee members and carrying a reward of Rs 8 lakh each. Among the others, seven were active as area committee members.
The surrender Naxalites were involved in carrying out various unlawful activities on behalf of the banned outfit. They were all residents of Bijapur, Dantewada, Sukma and Narayanpur districts of Bastar division.
The development arrived on the heels of another group of 26 Naxals, laying down arms before police in Sukma on Wednesday. According to police, 13 among them were carrying a collective reward of Rs 65 lakhs.
Maoist-affected districts of Chhattisgarh have witnessed mass surrender by members of outlawed group, with more than 2200 former Naxalites giving up arms in the past two years. The massive surge in surrender, according to government was an cumulative outcome of security operations, development works and rehabilitation schemes undertaken jointly by the administration and security forces in Maoist-hit regions of the state.
Bastar division of the state was badly hit by red terror with districts like Bijapur, Sukma and Narayanpur listed among the most Maoist-affected districts in the country. Security forces in recent years however, have succeeded in containing the spread of Naxal-insurgency through anti-Maoist operations, and erection of security bases at key locations.
