In a significant boost to anti-Naxal operations, 51 Maoist cadres surrendered to security forces in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh, on Wednesday. Among those who laid down their arms were 20 individuals who collectively bore bounties totaling Rs 66 lakh, indicating their former leadership roles. The surrender, featuring nine women fighters, is a direct result of the Bastar Range Police’s ‘Poona Margem – Punarwas se Punarjeevan’ rehabilitation program. This initiative actively encourages Naxalites to abandon their violent path and reintegrate into society. Authorities reported that the Maoists were motivated by the visible progress of development projects and the government’s supportive rehabilitation policies. Their decision to leave the extremist movement signifies a growing success for the state’s approach of fostering peace and development. The surrendered individuals were reportedly involved in various violent incidents and operated from remote forest areas, and their departure is expected to disrupt the organizational structure of the Maoist presence in the region.
