66 Maoists surrender in five Bastar districts in Chhattisgarh
A bulk of them, 25, surrendered in Bijapur while 15 surrendered in Dantewada, said Bastar Inspector General of Police P. Sundarraj. While 13 surrendered in Kanker district, eight and five Maoists laid down arms in Narayanpur and Sukma districts respectively.
The surrendered cadres include one sub-zonal committee member or SZCM carrying a reward of ₹25 lakh and four divisional committee members who are considered relatively higher up in the Maoists military formation. Over the past 18 months, 1,570 Maoists have surrendered in the Bastar division, the police added.
'With the establishment of new security camps in the interior regions, and improved access to roads, transport, drinking water, electricity, and other public welfare schemes, development is now reaching the remotest villages. The growing trust between local communities and security forces — nurtured through community policing and awareness efforts — has significantly contributed to this wave of surrenders,' said Mr. Sundarraj.
₹50,000 given as initial help
Each surrendered member was provided a cheque for ₹50,000 as an initial incentive to support their reintegration into society. Further benefits under the government's surrender and rehabilitation policy are being processed, the IG added.
Speaking to journalists in Bijapur, one of the surrendered Maoists said that continuous security operations by the forces in the hilly terrains had also shrunk the area of influence where they lived in relative safety earlier.
Mr. Sundarraj said appeals to Maoist cadres to give up violence and return to the mainstream were showing encouraging results. 'The surrender of 66 cadres, including a State-level committee member, across five districts in a single day is a strong indication that the Naxal outfit is approaching its end,' he said.
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