Major Surrender of 51 Maoists in Sukma and Bijapur as Government Deadline Looms
In a significant blow to left-wing extremism in Central India, 51 Maoist cadres, including 24 women, have surrendered to authorities in the Sukma and Bijapur districts of Chhattisgarh. This mass surrender comes at a critical juncture, with the central government's March 2026 deadline for ending the decades-long Maoist insurgency rapidly approaching.
Details of the Surrender and Recovered Arsenal
The surrendered individuals carried a cumulative bounty of Rs 1.61 crore on their heads, highlighting their seniority within the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) structure. In Sukma district alone, 21 cadres (14 women) surrendered, relinquishing 14 weapons including:
- Three AK-47 rifles with 120 rounds
- Two SLR rifles with 40 rounds
- INSAS rifles with 50 rounds
- Five single-shot guns
- Three Barrel Grenade Launchers (BGLs) with 20 rounds
- 10 gelatin sticks, wires, and 20 detonators
The surrendered cache in Sukma represented a bounty value of Rs 76 lakh. In neighboring Bijapur district, 30 Maoists (20 women) with a collective bounty of Rs 85 lakh also laid down their arms.
Rehabilitation and Financial Incentives
Each surrendered Maoist will receive Rs 50,000 as immediate financial relief and will be paid the full bounty declared on them. Additional incentives are provided for surrendered weapons, including a substantial Rs 4 lakh for returning an AK-47 rifle. Inspector General of Police for Bastar Range Sundarraj P. emphasized the administration's commitment, stating, "Over 2,400 Maoist cadres have left the organisation in the last two years. The administration remains committed to providing all willing cadres with support for a dignified rehabilitation."
Strategic Context and Remaining Challenges
This surrender follows closely on the heels of a significant encounter in Abujhmad where senior Maoist leader L Prabhakar Rao was killed along with six others. Police officials revealed that local residents played a crucial role in facilitating contact with the Naxal cadres and enabling their surrender.
Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan noted, "Twelve of the cadres were from Chhattisgarh but were active in Odisha. Barely 20-odd armed cadres are left in Sukma and we appeal to them to return to the mainstream." Bijapur Superintendent of Police Jitendra Yadav added that the surrendered individuals had "distanced themselves from the violent ideology and chose the path of peace."
Progress Toward the 2026 Deadline
In 2024, Union Home Minister Amit Shah set the ambitious March 2026 deadline for ending the Maoist insurgency. While significant progress has been made—with Chhattisgarh Police and central forces eliminating or securing the surrender of most senior Maoist leaders—two key figures remain active: Papa Rao, a Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee member, and Central Committee member Mallaraji Reddy alias Sangram.
A persistent concern for security forces is Battalion 1 of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), the armed wing of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist). Although broken into smaller formations, this unit remains operational despite the killing of its longtime commander Madvi Hidma in November last year and the subsequent surrender of his successor Barse Deva in January.
The surrender of 51 Maoists represents a substantial step toward achieving the government's counter-insurgency objectives as the March 2026 deadline approaches. With over 2,400 cadres having left the organization in the past two years, authorities remain focused on both military operations and rehabilitation programs to bring remaining extremists back into the mainstream.
