Dantewada, Chhattisgarh — In a major blow to the banned CPI (Maoist) insurgent movement, 37 Naxalites, including several senior and reward-carrying cadres, surrendered before the police and security forces in Dantewada district on Sunday. The group included 12 women and together carried a total bounty of ₹65 lakh on their heads.
Officials described the mass surrender as a significant success for Chhattisgarh’s ongoing counter-insurgency operations and rehabilitation programmes in the Bastar region.
Key Surrendered Cadres and Cases
Among the 37 who laid down arms, several were identified as senior functionaries of the Maoist organisation:
- Bhima alias Jahaj Kalmu
A prominent member of the Maoists’ “Company No. 02”, Jahaj Kalmu carried a reward of ₹8 lakh.
Police say he was allegedly involved in multiple major attacks, including the Minpa ambush of 2020, in which 26 security personnel were killed. - Other high-value cadres
Other senior Maoist operatives who surrendered include:- Kumali alias Anita Mandavi
- Geeta alias Lakshmi Madkam
- Ranjan alias Soma Mandavi
Out of the 37 surrendered Naxalites, 27 were reward-listed, with a combined bounty amounting to ₹65 lakh, according to police sources.
‘Poona Margem’ Campaign: The “New Path”
The surrender took place under the Dantewada Police’s special initiative ‘Poona Margem’ — a local Gondi phrase broadly meaning “New Path” or “From Violence to the Mainstream”.
Dantewada Superintendent of Police Gaurav Rai said that sustained pressure from security forces, coupled with attractive rehabilitation and welfare schemes, has steadily weakened the Maoist network at the grassroots level.
The officer noted that disillusionment with Maoist ideology, harsh living conditions in the forests, and fear of arrest or encounter have also pushed many cadres to reconsider their path.
Rehabilitation Package and Reintegration
Under the Chhattisgarh government’s surrender and rehabilitation policy, the surrendered Naxalites will be provided with financial and social support aimed at ensuring long-term reintegration:
- Immediate financial assistance:
Each surrendered cadre is to receive ₹50,000 as an initial relief amount. - Skill development & livelihood support:
They will be enrolled in skill development training programmes to help them secure employment or start small businesses. - Agricultural land and schemes:
Eligible individuals may receive land support and access to various agriculture and livelihood schemes, enabling them to build a stable civilian life. - Access to government welfare schemes:
Health, housing, education and other welfare benefits will be extended to them and their families as part of the reintegration process.
Police officials said the focus is not only on neutralising Maoist influence by force, but also on offering a viable and dignified alternative to those willing to surrender.
Impact on Maoist Movement in Dantewada
Authorities claim that this surrender reflects a steady erosion of the Maoists’ lower and middle-level cadre base in the Dantewada region.
According to police data cited during the announcement, over 500 Maoists — specifically more than 508 — have surrendered in Dantewada alone in the last 20 months. Security agencies believe that such sustained surrenders weaken the insurgents’ manpower, intelligence network, and logistical support in the area.
Officials maintain that operations against hardcore underground leadership will continue, even as the administration pursues a parallel track of development, dialogue, and rehabilitation.
