Major Setback for Maoists as Cadres Quit Citing "Hollow" Ideology and Exploitation
Eleven Naxalites, among them seven women cadres, surrendered before security forces in Narayanpur district of Chhattisgarh on Friday, significantly weakening the Maoist presence in the region. These cadres collectively carried a cash reward of ₹40 lakh announced by authorities for their capture.Senior Superintendent of Police, Narayanpur, Prabhat Kumar, confirmed the surrender, stating the cadres turned themselves in voluntarily before senior officers from the local police, Border Security Force (BSF), and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
Disillusionment Drives Cadres to Surrender
The surrendered Naxalites cited deep disillusionment with what they described as the "hollow" and "inhuman" ideology of Maoism. They further accused senior Maoist leaders of exploiting innocent tribal populations. Additionally, they acknowledged the rising influence of security forces due to the establishment of new security camps in previously inaccessible areas.The cadres also praised the government's development initiative, 'Niya Nellanar' (Your Good Village), aimed at enhancing the living standards of tribals in the remote Abujhmaad region. The positive impact of these developmental activities, combined with persistent outreach from security forces, influenced their decision to abandon the insurgency, the police official added.
High-Value Maoist Cadres Among Those Surrendered
The surrendered cadres had operated actively in different capacities across the North Bastar and Maad divisions of the Maoist group. Among the key figures who surrendered were:- Sannu alias Mangesh Upendi (38) – ₹8 lakh reward
- Santu alias Badru Vadada (35) – ₹8 lakh reward
- Janila alias Jalko Korrma (36) – ₹5 lakh reward
Narayanpur Police and ITBP Instrumental in Facilitating Surrender
SSP Prabhat Kumar praised the Narayanpur Police and the ITBP for playing crucial roles in the surrender. He emphasized that this surrender has dealt a significant blow to the Maoist hierarchy and advanced the goal of making the Abujhmaad region free from Maoist influence through the 'Maad Bachao Abhiyaan' (Save Maad Drive).Rehabilitation and Support for Surrendered Cadres
In line with the Chhattisgarh government's rehabilitation policy, each surrendered cadre was provided immediate assistance of ₹25,000. Further measures for their reintegration into mainstream society will also be implemented as per government guidelines.This latest development follows a trend in Bastar, where last year alone saw 792 Naxalites surrender across the seven districts of the region, including Narayanpur, indicating significant progress in the anti-Maoist operations in the state.
