At least 26 Naxalites, including three with bounties on their heads, surrendered before security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district on Monday, according to police.
The surrender took place in the presence of senior officials from the police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). According to Dantewada Superintendent of Police Gaurav Rai, the surrendered cadres said they were disillusioned with the “hollow” and “inhuman” Maoist ideology, the harsh conditions of jungle life, and growing internal conflicts within the banned outfit.
The surrendered individuals were associated with various Maoist factions and affiliated organizations, including the Janmilitia, Revolutionary Party Committee (RPC), Janatana Sarkar, Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisan Majdoor Sangthan (DAKMS), and Chetna Natya Mandli (CNM).
Among them, Rajesh Kashyap, who was active as the Aamdai area Janmilitia commander, carried a bounty of Rs 3 lakh. Kosa Madvi, head of the Janatana Sarkar squad, had a bounty of Rs 1 lakh, while Chhotu Kunjam, a CNM member, carried a reward of Rs 50,000.
The police said that the surrender was made possible due to the efforts of the 111th, 195th, 230th, and 231st CRPF battalions along with the local intelligence unit. With this development, a total of 953 Naxalites, including 224 with bounties, have surrendered under the 'Lon Varratu' campaign—a rehabilitation initiative launched in June 2020 in the local Gondi dialect meaning "return to your home or village."
In 2024 alone, a total of 792 Naxalites have surrendered across the Bastar region, which includes seven districts such as Dantewada.
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