4 wanted Maoists carrying reward of ₹20 lakh surrender in Dantewada

The Dantewada police said in a statement that the four Maoists decided to surrender in view of the government’s “rehabilitation policy” and the district police’s ‘come back home’ campaign

Updated on: Jul 19, 2023, 13:13:00 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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RAIPUR: Two Maoist couples surrendered before a joint team of senior police officers in the Dantewada district of Bastar region, police said on Tuesday.

Accident or crime scene cordon tape, police line do not cross. It is nighttime, emergency lights of police cars flashing blue, red and white in the background (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The four collectively carried a reward of ₹20 lakh, a statement by the Dantewada superintendent of police (SP) Gaurav Rai said.

Rai identified the four as Chhotu Mandavi, a section commander of Battalion number 1 Technical Team, his wife Lakhme Kunjan, who was with the south sub zonal bureau, and Kosa Mandavi, a deputy commander and his wife Aayte Midiyami.

The police statement said the four Maoists decided to surrender in view of the Chhattisgarh government’s “rehabilitation policy” and the district police’s ‘come back home campaign’ on Monday evening. They surrendered in the presence of Dantewada SP, Dantewada deputy inspector general (DIG) Kamlochan Kashyap and Central Reserve Police Force DIG Vikas Kataria.

Citing interrogation of the four Maoists, the statement also attributed their decision to surrender to the rapid expansion of security infrastructure in the dense jungles which has weakened the banned outfit’s grip in the area.

“For the last few years, cadres of battalion/division/area committee level are deserting the organization and running away at frequent intervals. At present, there is a feeling of mistrust towards the senior Maoist cadres. Surrendered Maoists will be given an incentive amount of ₹25,000 each,” Rai said in the statement.

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

Dantewada District

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