In Raipur, three Maoists with a combined bounty of Rs 16 lakh surrendered to Bijapur police on Saturday. The individuals—Ramesh Farsa, Manki Madavi, and Laxman Potam—were affiliated with the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) companies 1 and 2. Their surrender marks a notable shift in the ongoing conflict in the region, where 145 Maoists have surrendered and 326 have been arrested this year alone.
According to the police, the surrendered Maoists expressed a desire to abandon violence and reintegrate into mainstream society. They aim to contribute to development efforts in Bastar, signaling a potential change in their outlook towards regional development and peacebuilding.
Ramesh Farsa, who joined the Maoists in 2012, initially worked with the Chetna Natya Manch (CNM) before joining the ‘Hingum Bhumkal Militia’ in 2021 and later PLGA. Manki Madavi, alias Sarita, joined the Maoist ranks in 2015 as part of the Bal Sangham, the Maoists’ children wing, and worked with CNM in Cherli until 2020, when she was inducted into PLGA in Bhairamgarh.
The police have welcomed their decision to surrender and are hopeful it will encourage others to seek peaceful resolutions.