Nine hardcore Naxalites, who were allegedly involved in attacks on security forces and had a cumulative bounty of Rs 43 lakh, surrendered this past Saturday in Sukma district, Chhattisgarh, according to police reports.
The group, which included two women, turned themselves into senior officials of the police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). They cited their disappointment with the “hollow” and “inhuman” ideology of the Maoists, as well as infighting within the outlawed organization, as reasons for their surrender, Sukma Superintendent of Police (SP) Kiran Chavan stated.
Chavan further noted that the surrendered Naxalites were motivated by the state government’s “Niyad Nellanar” (your good village) scheme, which is designed to facilitate development in remote villages. He mentioned that senior Maoist cadres were feeling increasingly pressured by security forces and the establishment of police camps in interior areas.
Among those who surrendered, Ransai, also known as Oyam Buska (34), the commander of platoon 24 of the Maoists, and Pradip, also known as Ravva Rakesh (20), a member under a company wing of PLGA battalion 1, each had a reward of Rs 8 lakh on their heads. Additionally, four other cadres had rewards of Rs 5 lakh each, one woman Naxalite had a reward of Rs 3 lakh, and two other individuals, including a woman, had bounties of Rs 2 lakh each.
Chavan stated that Ransai was allegedly involved in several violent incidents, including the Jhara Ghati ambush in Narayanpur district in 2007, which resulted in the deaths of seven policemen; the Ranibodli attack in Bijapur district in 2007, which killed 55 security personnel; the Burkapal ambush in Sukma in 2017, where 25 CRPF personnel were killed; and the Minpa ambush in Sukma in 2020, which claimed the lives of 17 security personnel. The other surrendered cadres were also implicated in multiple attacks on security forces.
Personnel from the Konta police station, the District Reserve Guard (DRG), the Intelligence Branch, and the 2nd and 223rd battalions played a crucial role in facilitating their surrender.
The surrendered Naxalites were provided with Rs 25,000 each and will be rehabilitated according to the government’s policies. Last year, 792 Naxalites surrendered in the Bastar region, which encompasses seven districts, including Sukma.
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