In a tragic incident in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, eight security personnel lost their lives in a Maoist blast. Among them, five were former Naxalites who had surrendered and joined the police force, officials revealed.

The fallen personnel—Head Constable Budhram Korsa, Constables Dumma Markam, Pandaru Ram, Baman Sodhi of the District Reserve Guard (DRG), and Constable Somdu Vetti of Bastar Fighters—had left behind their past as Maoists to serve in the police.

According to IGP (Bastar range) Sundarraj P, Korsa and Sodhi were from Bijapur district, while the other three hailed from Dantewada. Their transformation from insurgents to protectors was part of ongoing efforts to rehabilitate former Naxalites.

In 2023 alone, 792 Naxalites surrendered in the Bastar region, comprising seven districts. This incident underscores both the challenges and sacrifices involved in combating Naxalism.