41 Maoists, including 32 with ₹1.19-crore bounty, surrender in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur

With this surrender, a total of 790 Maoist cadres have given up arms in Bijapur district since January 2024

Published on: Nov 26, 2025, 16:54:52 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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Raipur: Forty-one Maoists — including 32 cadres carrying a collective bounty of ₹1.19 crore — surrendered before senior police officers in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on Wednesday.

Bijapur Superintendent of Police (SP) Jitendra Kumar Yadav appealed to those still active to abandon the path of violence (Representative photo)

According to Bijapur Superintendent of Police (SP) Jitendra Kumar Yadav, the surrendered Maoists said they were influenced by the state government’s new surrender and rehabilitation policy and the Bastar police’s “Poona Margham” initiative aimed at social reintegration.

The police said that among the surrendering cadres were four members of the PLGA (People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army) Battalion Number 1 and various Maoist companies, three from area committees, 11 platoon and area committee party members, two PLGA members, four militia platoon commanders, one deputy commander, six militia platoon members, while the remaining were from frontal outfits of the outlawed CPI (Maoist).

Thirty-nine of the 41 cadres were from the South Sub-Zonal Bureau of the Maoists and were associated with the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee, Telangana State Committee, and the Dhamtari–Gariaband–Nuapada divisions, police officers said.

Among those who surrendered, Pandru Hapka alias Mohan (37), Bandi Hapka (35), Lakkhu Korsa (37), Badru Punem (35), Sukhram Hemla (27), Manjula Hemla (25), Mangali Madvi alias Shanti (29), Jairam Kadiyam (28), and Pando Madkam alias Chandni (35) carried a reward of ₹8 lakh each.

In addition, three cadres had a bounty of ₹5 lakh each, 12 cadres ₹2 lakh each, and eight cadres ₹1 lakh each.

Yadav appealed to those still active to abandon the path of violence. “Maoists should shed misleading and violent ideologies and return to society without fear. The Poona Margham drive ensures a secure, respectable and self-reliant future for those who surrender,” he said.

“The cadres expressed faith in the Constitution and pledged to lead a safe and dignified life within the democratic framework. Each of them received financial assistance of ₹50,000 under the rehabilitation policy,” he added.

With this surrender, a total of 790 Maoist cadres have given up arms in Bijapur district since January 2024. During the same period, 202 Maoists were killed in encounters and 1,031 cadres arrested in the district.

Across Chhattisgarh, more than 2,200 Maoists, including several senior leaders, have surrendered in the last 23 months, according to police.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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