Raipur
As many as 100 Naxals, including senior cadres, surrendered to security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district (North Bastar). Separately, 27 Naxals, carrying a combined reward of ₹50 lakh, also laid down their arms in Sukma district.
The Naxals who surrendered in Kanker include key leaders Raju Salam, Commander Prasad, and Meena. They surrendered at the BSF camp in Kamteda after emerging from the jungles and were later transported to the camp by bus. A high alert has been sounded at the camp for security reasons.
Raju Salam was reportedly the Commander of Divisional Committee Member (DVCM) Company Number 5 and was active in the Rowghat area. He has been the alleged mastermind behind all major incidents in Kanker over the past 20 years.
The large-scale surrender has raised hopes for the eradication of Naxalism in the region. Kanker Police are currently verifying the identity of all surrendered Naxals, who are likely to be presented before the media soon at the district or divisional headquarters.
Meanwhile, according to Bastar Inspector General (IG) of Police Sundarraj P, a total of 1,876 Naxals have surrendered in the region over the past 20 months. They are availing the benefits of the government’s Rehabilitation Policy by joining the social mainstream. He expressed confidence that more Maoists will embrace this positive path in the coming time.
In a major blow to the Naxal movement, Polit Bureau member Mozulla Venugopal Rao alias Bhupati alias Sonu Dada, along with 60 associates, officially surrendered before Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Gadchiroli on Wednesday. The group also handed over their weapons to the Chief Minister.
Bhupati, a high-ranking Naxal leader, was a Polit Bureau member in the organisation and hailed from Karimnagar, Telangana. He had been associated with the Maoist movement since the 1980s and was a most-wanted figure in Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha.
The Chhattisgarh government had announced a reward of approximately ₹1.5 crore for his capture, with the total reward from various states exceeding ₹6 crore. Sources indicate that Bhupati decided to surrender due to the mounting pressure from security forces.
In Sukma district, 27 active Naxals, including 10 women and 17 men, surrendered on 14 October. The group carried a total reward of ₹50 lakh, ranging from ₹1 lakh to ₹10 lakh on individual members.
The surrendered Maoists included hardcore members of PLGA Battalion Number 01 and the Regional Military Company. They laid down their arms before senior officers, including Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan, CRPF, and CoBRA personnel.
The Maoists cited their decision to return to the mainstream, attributing it to the security forces’ increased pressure and their disillusionment with the organisation’s inhumane ideology. They were also influenced by the Chhattisgarh Government’s “Naxalite Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy 2025” and the “Niyad Nellanar” scheme.
All the surrendered Maoists will receive an immediate incentive amount of ₹50,000 each, along with other rehabilitation facilities from the government.
