4 days ago
Kerlapenda declared Maoist-free with surrender of 16 Maoists in Sukma dist
Raipur: The small, remote and once insurgency-hit Kerlapenda village of Sukma district in Chhattisgarh has been officially declared Maoist-free with the surrender of 9 Maoists among the 16 that surrendered in Sukma, making it the second village in both state and the district.
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The village received this status under the govt's "Naxal Ilvad Panchayat Yojana". The development comes after 16 Maoists with nine from Kerlapenda village, including one rewarded cadre with Rs 2 lakh, decided to give up on violence.
The others were members of local Maoist militia groups. Sukma superintendent of police Kiran Chavan confirmed to TOI, "Out of the 16 Maoists who surrendered, nine belonged to Kerlapenda, including one reward-carrying hardcore cadre.
With this, the village is now completely free from Maoist presence." he said.
Kerlapenda is located about 90 kilometers from the district headquarters, in the interiors of Chintalnar, which was once among the worst Maoist-affected regions, the SP said, adding that only last year, a security camp was established deep inside Chintalnar to reach Kerlapenda, while a Ram Temple was also inaugurated, signalling a return to civil life in the region and making it more accessible.
The first village to be declared Maoist-free was Badesetti in Sukma in April, which has recently been sanctioned with Rs 1 crore for development works.
The surrender took place under the newly framed Chhattisgarh Naxalite Surrender and Victim Rehabilitation Policy – 2025, which promises incentives and developmental funds for villages that free themselves from Maoist influence. A proposal for Rs 1 crore in development aid for Kerlapenda is now being sent to the state govt.
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The surrender was the result of combined efforts by the District Police, DRG (District Reserve Guard), CRPF units 218 and 226, and the local intelligence network, officials said. There are two hardcore members of the PLGA battalion and among 16 surrendered, six carried reward of Rs 25 lakh.
The surrender took place at the Sukma district police headquarters, in presence of SP Kiran Chavan, additional SP (Naxal Ops) Umesh Prasad Gupta, and senior officers from the CRPF's 218 and 226 battalions.
Among the surrendered, the significant ones include Rita alias Dodi Sukki, 36-year-old female cadre from the CRC Regional Company No. 2, carrying a reward of Rs 8 lakh, Rahul Punem, an 18-year-old PLGA battalion cadre from Company 2, Platoon 2, also with a reward of Rs 8 lakh; Lekam Lakhma, a 28-year-old from the South Bastar Division, with a reward of Rs 3 lakh and three others—Sodi Chula, Telam Kosa, and Dodi Hurra—each with a bounty of Rs 2 lakh.
