Raipur/Sukma, Nov 28 (NationPress) In a major blow to Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in the Bastar region, ten Naxalites, among them prominent member of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) Chaitu alias Shyam Dada, who had a bounty of Rs 25 lakh on his head, submitted themselves to security forces in Sukma district on Friday.

Chaitu, identified as one of the architects of the horrific 2013 Jhiram Valley attack that decimated nearly the entire Congress leadership in the state, had been at the helm of the CPI (Maoist)'s Darbha division for several years.

He ranked among the most sought-after Maoist leaders operating along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border, according to police officials.

The other Naxalites who surrendered include Divisional Committee Member (DCVM) Saroj alias Urmila (with a Rs 8 lakh reward), Area Committee Members (ACMs) Bhupesh alias Sahayak Ram, Prakash, Kamlesh alias Jhitru, Janani alias Raymati Kashyap, Santosh alias Sannu, and Naveen, in addition to Party Members (PM) Ramshila and Jayanti Kashyap.

The cumulative reward for the ten surrendered Naxalites amounts to Rs 65 lakh.

Authorities indicated that the increasing pressure from relentless anti-Naxal operations by DRG, Bastar Fighters, CRPF, and other security agencies, along with a wave of senior Maoist leaders' surrenders in recent months and repeated appeals from the Chhattisgarh government, prompted this group to lay down their weapons.

All ten individuals surrendered before senior police and district officials in Sukma, expressing their intention to reintegrate into mainstream society.

In accordance with the state government's surrender and rehabilitation policy, they will receive rehabilitation benefits.

This series of surrenders follows numerous high-profile Maoist leaders abandoning their cause this year, showcasing a growing disenchantment within the banned organization and the effectiveness of coordinated security initiatives and developmental outreach in the region.

Consequently, security forces have delivered another significant blow to the Maoist structure in south Bastar, an area once deemed the epicenter of Naxal activity in Chhattisgarh.