In a significant blow to the Maoist movement, 22 Naxalites — including four with a total bounty of ₹26 lakh — laid down arms in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on Tuesday. Among them were six women, and several senior cadres from high-ranking Maoist formations.

This mass surrender came just a day after 26 Naxalites gave up arms in Dantewada, signaling deep internal fissures and waning faith in the CPI (Maoist). According to Bijapur SP Jitendra Kumar Yadav, the former rebels cited growing disillusionment with the group’s “cruel and hollow ideology” and internal disagreements as major reasons for quitting.

Officials noted that the state’s development push, particularly the ‘Niyad Nellanar’ (Your Good Village) scheme, played a crucial role. The scheme brings basic amenities and infrastructure to villages near security camps, helping bridge the divide between remote tribal communities and mainstream development.

Key figures among the surrendered include Kamli Hemla and Muya Madvi, each with an ₹8 lakh bounty; Sonu Tati and Mahesh Punem, each with a ₹5 lakh bounty. They were active in PLGA battalions and press operations within Maoist zones.

Each surrendered cadre received ₹50,000 as immediate assistance and will be rehabilitated under government policies. So far in 2024, 792 Naxalites have surrendered in the Bastar region, while 83 have been killed and 172 arrested in various operations.

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