52 Maoists surrender in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district: Police

In Chhattisgarh, 52 Maoists surrendered, with bounties over ₹1.41 crore, under a rehabilitation initiative, following previous surrenders in the region.

Updated on: Jan 15, 2026, 18:16:15 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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Raipur: At least 52 Maoists, 49 of them carrying a collective bounty of over ₹1.41 crore, surrendered before security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on Thursday, police said.

They laid down arms before senior police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officers. (Representative photo)

Police officers said that the surrendered cadres were active in the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC), Andhra–Odisha Border division and the Bhamragarh area committee of Maharashtra.

They laid down arms before senior police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officers under the ‘Poona Margem’ initiative, which focuses on rehabilitation and social reintegration, Bijapur Superintendent of Police Jitendra Kumar Yadav said.

According to the officers, the cadres were influenced by the state government’s surrender and rehabilitation policy.

Among those who surrendered are divisional committee member Lakkhu Karam alias Anil (32); Platoon Party Committee members Laxmi Madvi (28) and Chinni Sodhi alias Shanti (28) carrying a reward of ₹8 lakh each. Thirteen other cadres carried a bounty of ₹5 lakh each, 19 had rewards of ₹2 lakh each, and 14 carried rewards of ₹1 lakh each.

All surrendered cadres will be given immediate assistance of ₹50,000 each and rehabilitated as per the government’s policy, the SP said.

The surrender comes a day after 29 Maoists laid down arms in neighbouring Sukma district. Earlier, 63 Maoists surrendered in Dantewada on January 8, while 26 cadres gave up violence in Sukma on January 7.

Officers said more than 1,500 Maoists surrendered across Chhattisgarh in 2025.

The Centre has set a target to eliminate Left Wing Extremism from the country by March 31 this year.

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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