Four hardcore Naxalites with a combined bounty of Rs 20 lakh on their heads surrendered in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district on Friday, just hours before Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s scheduled visit to the state.
Shah is set to arrive in Raipur on Friday night and attend official programs in Dantewada on Saturday. According to Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan, the four surrendered before the police and CRPF officials, citing disillusionment with the Maoist ideology, internal conflicts within the outlawed group, and atrocities committed against local tribal populations.
The Naxalites also stated that they were motivated by the state government’s ‘Niyad Nellanar’ initiative, which focuses on bringing development to remote and interior villages. Additionally, they noted the increasing pressure from security forces and the expansion of camps in interior regions as key reasons for laying down arms.
Among the surrendered ultras, Santosh Barse, aged 28, was a member of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) battalion no. 1 and carried a bounty of Rs 8 lakh. Arun alias Madvi Hurra, 20, a member of the West Bastar Division’s Company no. 2, also had a bounty of Rs 8 lakh.
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According to police, Hurra was allegedly involved in two significant encounters in Bijapur — one in February this year where 22 Naxalites were killed, and another in March which resulted in the deaths of 26 ultras. The two other individuals who surrendered, Sodhi Mukka, aged 26, and Madvi Roshni, were each carrying a bounty of Rs 2 lakh.
All four surrendered Naxalites received immediate assistance of Rs 50,000 each as part of the government’s rehabilitation policy, and they will be further supported under the existing surrender and rehabilitation framework.
According to police data, 792 Naxalites have surrendered in the Bastar region — which comprises seven districts — in the year 2024 alone, reflecting the growing impact of government policies and sustained security operations in the area.
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