In a significant blow to extremist activities, fifteen Naxalites laid down their arms before security forces in the Sukma district of Chhattisgarh on Monday. The group included nine individuals with a combined bounty totaling Rs 48 lakh, underscoring their former roles within the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA). Five women were among those who surrendered, marking a notable shift in local Naxalite presence. Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan confirmed the surrender and stated that the former militants cited the state government’s progressive development and rehabilitation initiatives as key motivators. Initiatives like the ‘Niyad Nellanar’ scheme, aimed at improving remote village infrastructure, and the ‘Poona Margham’ surrender policy, designed for social reintegration, were specifically mentioned as encouraging factors. The surrender includes hardened cadres such as Madvi Sanna and Suryam alias Ravva Soma, both with Rs 8 lakh bounties, along with their wives, highlighting the impact of these government programs on reducing insurgency in the region. Each surrendered individual received immediate financial assistance of Rs 50,000 as part of their reintegration process, with further support pledged under existing government schemes. This event follows a trend of increasing surrenders in Chhattisgarh, with over 2,150 Naxalites having renounced violence in the past 23 months.
