The Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh has been a stronghold of Naxalites. Last Thursday, 103 Naxalites surrendered, laying down their arms before the police and administration. This is not an ordinary event. Such a large number of Naxalites returning to the mainstream simultaneously has never happened before in the state’s history. The police had placed a reward of 1 crore 6 lakh 30 thousand rupees on 49 of those Naxalites. Furthermore, the authorities gave each Naxalite a cash incentive of 50,000 rupees.
The surrender ceremony was attended by DIG (Dantewada Range) Kamlochan Kashyap, IG (CRPF Sector) BS Negi, and Bijapur SP Jitendra Kumar Yadav. All the Naxalites were provided a check for an immediate assistance amount of 50,000 rupees under the new surrender and rehabilitation policy of the Chhattisgarh government.
SP Yadav said that the government’s policy is encouraging Maoists to return to the mainstream. The families of those who surrendered want them to live normal lives. He appealed to the remaining Naxalites to return to their families and society. According to the authorities, 410 Naxalites have surrendered in Bijapur district alone this year, while 421 Naxalites have been arrested and 137 Maoists have been killed.
Several major Naxalite commanders were also among those who surrendered on Thursday. These included Lachhu Punem alias Santosh, the communication commander of the Southern Sub-Zonal Bureau; Guddu Farsa alias Vijay of Company No. 10; and Bhima Sodhi alias Kamal Singh/Sukhdev, the PPCM and security guard commander. A reward of eight lakh rupees was declared on each of these three. In addition, area committee leaders, RPCs, militia commanders, and members of the Janatana Sarkar were also among those who surrendered.
According to the police list, most of the Naxalites belong to the Muriya tribe and are between 18 and 40 years old. They are associated with the rural areas of the Bhairamgarh, Gangalur, and Nelsonar police station areas.
The Chhattisgarh government implemented a new Naxalite surrender and rehabilitation policy in 2025, with the aim of making the state Naxal-free by March 2026.
Plans for the Naxalites upon surrender include a maximum assistance of 5 lakh rupees for land and housing, an immediate incentive of 50,000 rupees, and special schemes for the education and employment of the Naxalites’ children. Those with a reward of 5 lakh or more will receive residential land in urban areas or agricultural land in rural areas, or property assistance of 2 lakh rupees. Unmarried, widowed, or widower Naxalites will receive assistance of 1 lakh rupees for marriage within three years. Police personnel and other individuals who help in the surrender will receive 10 percent of the declared reward amount or a maximum of 5 lakh rupees. If all the Naxalites surrender from a panchayat area, 4 crore rupees will be approved for development work there. In the case of mass surrender, the incentive amount will be doubled. Those who recover weapons and explosives will be given a separate amount of reward.
According to the Bijapur police, frustration has increased in the Maoist organization due to the continuous loss of leadership, internal differences, the impact of road and development works, and the increasing actions of the security forces. The central government has set a target to eliminate Naxalism from the country by 2026, due to which the campaign has been intensified. The establishment of new security camps, road schemes, and community policing have encouraged Naxalites to surrender. The joint action of DRG, District Force, STF, and Cobra Battalion has also played a major role in this.
These Naxalites took the step to surrender, influenced by the Chhattisgarh government’s Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy 2025 and the Niyat Nellanar scheme. The government has sent a clear message that those who want to leave the path of violence and join the society will not only receive respect, but also a new life. Those who surrendered were given an incentive of 50,000 rupees. Those who surrendered with weapons were given additional rewards, such as 15,000 for an LMG and 10,000 for an IED.
According to officials, the situation has changed so much today that the Naxalites who surrender have become the strength of the security forces. They have been included in the District Reserve Guard (DRG), and their local experience is proving to be the biggest asset for the security forces.
Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai called this surrender a victory of peace and development on Vijayadashami. He said that the Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy 2025 and the Niyat Nellanar scheme have instilled faith in the hearts of the people. The surrender of 103 Naxalites in Bijapur is proof of this. Our goal is to make Chhattisgarh completely Naxal-free by March 31, 2026.
