At least 33 Naxals surrendered before the security forces in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh on Friday (April 18). According to the police report, around 17 of them (Naxals) were carrying a cumulative bounty of Rs 49 lakh. Meanwhile, 22 cadres, including nine women, turned themselves in before senior officials of the police and Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF) earlier in the day; later, 11 others, including two women, surrendered before police officials.
Sukma SP on surrendered Naxals
The surrendered cadres cited disappointment with hollow and inhuman Maoist ideology and atrocities on local tribals, Sukma Superintendent of Police (SP) Kiran Chavan said. The official said they were also impressed by the state government's 'Niyad Nellanar' (your good village) scheme, aimed at facilitating development works in remote villages, and the new surrender and rehabilitation policy.
As many as 22 surrendered Naxalites were active in the Maad (Chhattisgarh) and Nuapada (Odisha) divisions of Maoists. Chavan said the cadres included Muchaki Joga (33), deputy commander in PLGA (people's liberation guerrilla army) company no. 1 under the Maad division of Maoists, and his wife Muchaki Jogi (28), a member of the same squad, who carried a reward of Rs 8 lakh each.
Among the others were Kikid Deve (30) and Manoj alias Dudhi Budhra (28), both area committee members of Maoists carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh each. The official said seven surrendered cadres carried a bounty of Rs 2 lakh each, while another Naxalite carried a reward of Rs 50,000. He told the other surrendered cadres were also involved in multiple attacks on security forces.
Naxalites to lay down their arms as soon as possible: Amit Shah
Cobra Commandos and Chhattisgarh Police have arrested 22 notorious Naxalites with modern weapons and explosive materials in various operations in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh. Also, 11 Naxalites have surrendered in Badesetti Panchayat of Sukma, due to which this Panchayat has become completely Naxal-free. "I appeal to the hiding Naxalites to lay down their arms as soon as possible and join the mainstream by adopting the surrender policy of the Modi government. We are determined to free the country from the scourge of Naxalism before 31 March 2026," the Home Minister added.
Who all played a key role in this operation?
The district police, District Reserve Guard (DRG), CRPF, and its elite unit CoBRA played a crucial role in their surrender, he said.
The official said 11 other surrendered Naxalites were active in Badesatti village panchayat under the Phulbagdi police station limits. With this, Badesatti has become a Naxalite-free village panchayat. Chavan said four of them carried a reward of Rs 2 lakh each, and one carried a bounty of Rs 50,000.
'Elvad Panchayat Abhiyan'
The official said that under the new Chhattisgarh Naxal Surrender/Victim Relief and Rehabilitation Policy-2025, the state government has introduced 'Elvad Panchayat Yojna', which has a provision of sanctioning development works worth Rs 1 crore to village panchayats that facilitate the surrender of Naxalites active in their area and pass a resolution declaring themselves Maoist free.
"For the last 15 days, the police have been targeting Badesatti village and were in contact with local panchayat representatives to encourage village-level members like militia and revolutionary party committee of the banned outfit to surrender," he said.
Chavan said 11 Naxalites active in Badesatti were identified, and with their surrender, the panchayat has become Maoist-free. All the surrendered Naxalites were provided assistance of around Rs 50,000 each, and they will be further rehabilitated as per the government's policy. Last year, 792 Naxalites surrendered in the Bastar region, comprising seven districts, including Sukma.
Chhattisgarh Deputy CM on Naxals surrender in Sukma
Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma said, "22 people have been arrested in Bijapur who have been charged under UAPA, and this is a big incident. Secondly, a total of 33 people have surrendered in Sukma, and a big dump has been found in Narayanpur, in which lakhs of rupees and 11 laptops have been found...".