Raipur/Sukma, Jan 30 (NationPress) In a significant development for anti-Maoist operations in Bastar, four Naxalites, including two women, with a total bounty of Rs 8 lakh, surrendered to security forces in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district on Friday.

The individuals, part of the Kistaram area committee under the outlawed CPI (Maoist)’s southern Bastar division, laid down their arms as part of the state government’s ‘Poona Margem’ program, which focuses on rehabilitation and social reintegration.

Among those who surrendered were Sodhi Joga, an area committee member with a reward of Rs 5 lakh, along with Dabar Ganga (alias Madkam Ganga), Sodhi Raje, and Madvi Budhari, each with a bounty of Rs 1 lakh. They relinquished a substantial cache of weapons: one INSAS rifle, one Self-Loading Rifle (SLR), one .303 rifle, one .315 rifle, and additional ammunition.

The surrendering cadres cited the Chhattisgarh government’s effective rehabilitation policy as a strong reason for their decision to leave the insurgency.

Police in Sukma worked in conjunction with their counterparts from Andhra Pradesh’s Alluri Sitarama Raju district to oversee the surrender.

Authorities attribute the increase in surrenders to recent tactical successes, including the setup of new security camps in Kistaram and Golapalli, improved road access to remote areas, and ongoing anti-Naxal operations that have significantly limited Maoist movement.

These initiatives have hindered extortion, recruitment, and logistical support for insurgents in the area.

Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan urged remaining Maoist cadres to renounce violence, promising them security, respectable livelihoods, and comprehensive rehabilitation benefits, including financial support according to government guidelines.

This incident contributes to a notable trend in 2026, with over 200 Naxalites surrendering in Chhattisgarh this year, following mass surrenders like the 52 in Bijapur on January 15.

In 2025, more than 1,500 cadres reintegrated into mainstream society, demonstrating the effectiveness of enhanced security measures, welfare outreach, and rehabilitation programs.

The Central government has pledged to eliminate Left-Wing Extremism across the nation by March 2026, with Chhattisgarh’s Bastar division experiencing accelerated progress through territorial control, intelligence-led operations, and community interaction.

Officials view these surrenders as indicators of diminishing Maoist morale and a strengthening state presence in previously inaccessible forests.