9 Maoists including 6 women surrender in Chhattisgarh’s Gariaband

The group, which included six women, belonged to the Sinapali and Sonabeda–Dharambandha–Kholibatar (SDK) area committees.

Published on: Jan 19, 2026, 21:30:21 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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RAIPUR: Nine Maoist cadres, carrying a cumulative reward of ₹45 lakh, surrendered before the Chhattisgarh police in Gariaband district on Monday.

The Maoists also deposited firearms including three AK-47 rifles and two self-loading rifles. (Photo:Chhattisgarh Police)

The group, which included six women, belonged to the Sinapali and Sonabeda–Dharambandha–Kholibatar (SDK) area committees. Amresh Mishra, inspector general of police, Raipur Range, said they turned themselves in, citing disillusionment with Maoist ideology and the hardships of living in a forest.

Among those who surrendered were Anju alias Kavita (40), a divisional committee member and SDK area committee secretary; Baldev alias Wamanwatti, in-charge of the Sinapali area committee; Damru alias Mahadev (35), another divisional committee member; and Soni alias Budri (37), Sinapali area committee secretary. All of them carried a reward of ₹8 lakh each. Another key cadre, Ranjit alias Govind, a Sinapali area committee member, carried a reward of ₹5 lakh.

The five cadres also handed over three AK-47 rifles and two self-loading rifles, police said.

Parvati alias Sukki Karam (37), an area committee member carrying a reward of ₹5 lakh, and three others with bounties of ₹1 lakh each also surrendered.

Police said Anju, associated with the outlawed outfit since 2004 and a resident of Sukma district, was wanted in 19 cases in Gariaband district. Baldev, from Bastar district, was wanted in 29 cases.

Mishra said sustained efforts are being made to persuade the remaining Maoist area committees in Gariaband to surrender under the rehabilitation policy.

This year, 180 Maoists have already surrendered in Chhattisgarh. On January 15, 52 Maoists, 49 of them carrying a combined bounty of over ₹1.41 crore, surrendered in Bijapur district.

More than 1,500 Maoists surrendered across Chhattisgarh in 2025.

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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