Raipur: At least 26 Maoists, including 13 carrying a combined bounty of ₹65 lakh, surrendered before security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district on Wednesday, police officials said.
The group — which included seven women — laid down arms before senior police officers and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel under the state government’s Poona Margem initiative, aimed at rehabilitation and social reintegration, Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan said.
According to police, the surrendered cadres were associated with the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) battalion, the South Bastar and Maad divisions, and the Andhra–Odisha Border (AOB) division. They were allegedly involved in multiple incidents of violence across Abujhmad, Sukma, and neighbouring regions of Odisha.
Among those who surrendered was Lali alias Muchaki Aayte Lakhmu (35), a company party committee member carrying a reward of ₹10 lakh. She was allegedly linked to several major attacks, including a 2017 IED blast on Koraput Road in Odisha that killed 14 security personnel.
Police said the cadres cited sustained anti-Maoist operations and the state’s surrender and rehabilitation policy as key reasons for giving up arms.
Four other prominent Maoists — Hemla Lakhma (41), Aasmita alias Kamlu Sanni (20), Rambati alias Padam Jogi (21), and Sundam Pale (20) — each carried rewards of ₹8 lakh. Lakhma is accused of involvement in the 2020 Minpa ambush in Sukma, in which 17 security personnel lost their lives.
Of the remaining surrendered Maoists, three carried bounties of ₹5 lakh each, one ₹3 lakh, one ₹2 lakh, and three others had rewards of ₹1 lakh each, officials said.
All 26 surrendered cadres were provided immediate financial assistance of ₹50,000 each and will be rehabilitated further in accordance with the state government’s policy.
