Raipur/Khairagarh, Nov 26 (NationPress) In a significant blow to the banned CPI (Maoist), a determined Maoist couple, facing a total bounty of Rs 13 lakh, surrendered to the district police in Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai on Wednesday. They expressed their belief in the Chhattisgarh government's effective Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy-2025 as their means to a new beginning.

The couple, both aged 25, were intricately involved in the Maoist organization’s Maad Division of Bastar and the extensive Madhya Pradesh-Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh (MMC) region. They had participated in several violent activities, including recruitment and logistical planning in the dense forests along the tri-state border.

The male, known by the alias 'Munna', had a bounty of Rs 7 lakh for his diligent role as a foot soldier. His partner, 'Julie', deeply engaged in the operations, was wanted with a Rs 6 lakh reward on her head, as per police documentation.

Authorities have called this development a 'game-changer' in their ongoing efforts to dismantle Maoist strongholds.

“Motivated by our forces' consistent operations and the prospect of a respectable life under the rehabilitation program, this couple opted for peace over a life of evasion,” Lakshya Sharma, Superintendent of Police, conveyed to the media.

“They will now participate in essential de-radicalization and skill training programs, alongside receiving immediate financial support and long-term assistance to help them rebuild their lives.”

This surrender is part of a broader trend of increased Maoist capitulations throughout Chhattisgarh, with over 2,200 fighters, including several high-profile targets, abandoning the armed struggle in the last 23 months alone.

Officials credit this trend to a comprehensive strategy that combines surgical operations, community engagement, and attractive incentives such as monthly stipends, housing plots, and vocational training under the prominent 'Niyad Nellanar' initiative.

For Munna and Julie, who have evaded capture for numerous years while navigating the challenging landscapes of Bastar and adjacent territories, this decision signifies a pivotal change in their lives.

According to sources, growing disillusionment with Maoist beliefs, coupled with stories of successful rehabilitation from former comrades, has played a critical role in their choice.

As the couple embarks on an uncertain yet hopeful journey into civilian life, their defection highlights a wider decline in the red rebels' influence, one surrender at a time.