In a major boost to Chhattisgarh&rsquo;s anti-Maoist campaign, 15 Maoists, including five with a combined bounty of ₹17 lakh on their heads, surrendered before senior police and CRPF officials in Dantewada on Thursday.
This development is being hailed as a crucial success under the state&rsquo;s ongoing rehabilitation initiatives, particularly the &lsquo;Lon Varratu&rsquo; (Come Back Home) and &lsquo;Puna Margem&rsquo; (New Path) campaigns, which have been actively pursued across the insurgency-hit Bastar region.
Among the high-profile surrenders were long-time operatives Budhram alias Lalu Kuharam (₹8 lakh bounty) and Kamli alias Moti Potavi (₹5 lakh), both involved in numerous deadly attacks against security forces over the past two decades. Others included Pojja Madkam (₹2 lakh) and two women cadres, Aayate alias Sangeeta Sodi and Pandey Madvi, each with a ₹1 lakh reward.
The surrender ceremony was attended by Dantewada SP Gaurav Rai, DIG Kamlochan Kashyap, and CRPF officer Rakesh Chaudhary. Officials reiterated the government&rsquo;s commitment to offering a dignified return to those willing to give up arms.
Under Chhattisgarh&rsquo;s updated surrender and rehabilitation policy, the ex-Maoists will receive vocational training, psychological counselling, livelihood support, and personal security guarantees.
Since the launch of Lon Varratu in 2020, over 1,020 Maoists have surrendered in the Bastar region, including 254 individuals with declared bounties. The surrendered cadres are from the insurgency-affected districts of Dantewada, Sukma, Bijapur, and Narayanpur, with 824 men and 196 women among them.
The &lsquo;Puna Margem&rsquo; initiative builds on the foundation laid by Lon Varratu by offering structured rehabilitation pathways to reintegrate surrendered cadres into mainstream society.
Authorities believe the success of these programmes stems from persistent community outreach, ground-level trust-building, and increasing disillusionment among Maoist cadres. Many cited harsh jungle conditions, lack of basic amenities, internal exploitation, and shattered ideological beliefs as key reasons for abandoning the movement.
Officials have urged remaining Maoists to embrace peace and return to civil life, stressing that the government is ready to offer support, safety, and dignity to those who choose reconciliation over violence.
This latest wave of surrenders is being seen as more than a tactical win, it represents a shifting tide in Bastar&rsquo;s decades-long conflict, with hope gradually replacing hostility. [Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed]

Top Maoists lay down arms in Dantewada as state rehab drives gain major success

15 Maoists Surrender in Dantewada, Chhattisgarh

Top Maoists lay down arms in Dantewada as state rehab drives gain major success

July 24, 2025 | 16:42 IST