Raipur/Dantewada, March 31 (NationPress) In a significant development, five Maoist members, including four women, affiliated with the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee, have surrendered to security forces in the Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh on Tuesday.

This surrender took place at the Police Lines in Karli as part of the Puna Margem initiative, which is designed to facilitate the rehabilitation and integration of former militants into society.

According to police reports, the individuals relinquished their arms and opted to reintegrate into the community, citing the diminishing influence and effectiveness of the Maoist organization.

A total reward of nine lakh rupees had been announced for the surrendering Maoists.

The group included Some Kadti, approximately 42 years old, a member of the Bhairamgarh Area Committee from Bijapur district, who had a reward of five lakh rupees.

The other four members are: Lakhma Oyam (19), Sarita Podiyam (21), Jogi Kalmu (20), and Moti Oyam (19), all hailing from Bijapur district.

Acting on intelligence provided by these surrendered cadres, security forces successfully recovered 40 deadly weapons from various Maoist weapons caches.

This recovery included eight SLR rifles, three INSAS rifles, one carbine, one .303 rifle, and five BGL launchers, representing a major setback for the terror group’s capabilities.

Dantewada has shown remarkable progress in its anti-Maoist operations.

Since the start of 2024, a total of 607 Maoist cadres have surrendered in the district as part of the rehabilitation program.

During this timeframe, 92 Maoists have been arrested, and 54 have been neutralized in encounters.

The district has also conducted effective joint operations with neighboring Bijapur, Narayanpur, and Sukma districts, eliminating several high-profile Maoist leaders.

The surrender event was attended by senior officials, including Sundarraj P, Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range); Rakesh Chaudhary, Deputy Inspector General of Police, CRPF Dantewada Range; Devesh Dhruv, Dantewada Collector; Gaurav Rai, Dantewada Superintendent of Police; along with other senior officials from both the Central Reserve Police Force and the district administration.

Inspector General of Police (Bastar), Sundarraj P, emphasized that the Puna Margem initiative offers rehabilitation, security, and a dignified life to those who choose to leave violence behind.

The program aims to foster enduring peace, development, and trust in the Bastar region.

With ongoing surrenders and substantial weapons recoveries, the Maoist movement in Bastar continues to weaken significantly.

The Union government is committed to providing comprehensive rehabilitation support to assist the surrendered Maoist cadres in reintegrating into mainstream society.