THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
Sukma, April 18: In a significant blow to Maoist influence in Chhattisgarh, 22 Naxalites, including nine women and several high-ranking members, surrendered before security forces in Sukma district on Friday. The group included 12 rebels who collectively carried a reward of ₹40.5 lakh on their heads.
Key Naxal figures with high bounties surrender
Among those who surrendered were key figures such as Muchaki Joga, a deputy commander of the PLGA’s Company No. 1 under the Maad division, and his wife Muchaki Jogi, both of whom had bounties of ₹8 lakh each.
Also surrendering were area committee members Kikid Deve and Manoj alias Dudhi Budhra, each with a reward of ₹5 lakh.
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Authorities confirmed that several of the other cadres carried rewards ranging from ₹2 lakh to ₹50,000 and were involved in violent attacks on security forces in the past.
The group had been operating in Maoist strongholds across the Maad region of Chhattisgarh and Nuapada in neighbouring Odisha.
Disillusionment with Maoist ideology and influence of state programs
According to Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan, the former insurgents cited disillusionment with the Maoist ideology and their atrocities against local tribal communities as reasons for abandoning the movement.
They also expressed support for the state government’s development-oriented ‘Niyad Nellanar’ initiative and the recently introduced surrender and rehabilitation policy.
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The move was made possible through coordinated efforts by the district police, the District Reserve Guard (DRG), CRPF, and its elite CoBRA unit.
Each of the surrendered Naxalites has been granted an initial assistance of ₹50,000 and will be rehabilitated under government provisions.