12 Maoists with Rs 46 lakh bounty surrender in Chhattisgarh

Mangalore Today News Network

Chhattisgarh, Feb 5, 2026: Twelve Naxalites carrying a cumulative bounty of ₹46 lakh surrendered before the police in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on Thursday, a senior official said.

The cadres, including eight women, belonged to the Maoists’ south sub-zonal bureau and surrendered before senior police officers under the Bastar police’s ‘Poona Margem’ (from rehabilitation to social reintegration) initiative, Bijapur Superintendent of Police Jitendra Kumar Yadav said. He added that they were also influenced by the state government’s surrender and rehabilitation policy.

Among those who surrendered were Somadu Madkam (42), a divisional committee member and in charge of the Katekalyan area committee, and Hungi Kunjam (19) and Payaki Kunjam (22), both party members of different units. Each carried a reward of ₹8 lakh. Three other cadres carried bounties of ₹5 lakh each, one carried a reward of ₹2 lakh, and five carried ₹1 lakh each.

The surrendered cadres handed over an AK-47 rifle, two self-loading rifles (SLRs), 250 gelatin sticks, 400 detonators, a plastic drum filled with gunpowder and a bundle of cordex wire.

All the surrendered Naxalites will be given immediate financial assistance of ₹50,000 each and will be rehabilitated further in accordance with the government’s policy, the SP said.

Since January 1, 2024, a total of 888 Naxalites have surrendered in Bijapur district, while 1,163 have been arrested and 231 killed in separate encounters, he added.

Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range, Sundarraj Pattilingam, said the Maoist organisation was rapidly heading towards its end. He attributed this to the establishment of security camps in remote areas, improved road connectivity, sustained anti-Naxal operations and the effective implementation of development schemes, which have steadily shrunk the group’s base.

Appealing to the remaining cadres to surrender, the IG said violence leads only to destruction and suffering, while the ‘Poona Margem’ campaign offers a path to peace, dignity and a positive future.

With the latest surrender, more than 220 Naxalites have laid down arms in the state so far this year. On January 15 alone, 52 Naxalites surrendered in Bijapur district. More than 1,500 surrendered across the state last year.

The Centre has reiterated its resolve to eliminate Naxalism from the country by March 31 this year.