Sukma, 30 January (H.S.): Four Maoist cadres with a combined bounty of Rs 8 lakh, active in the Kistaram Area Committee of Sukma district, Chhattisgarh, surrendered to police officials on Friday by handing over automatic weapons. Two of these insurgents are women.

Police officials revealed that through joint efforts by Sukma Police and Alluri Sitarama Raju district police from Andhra Pradesh, under the Poona Margegem - Rehabilitation to Rejuvenation campaign, four Maoist cadres worth Rs 8 lakh from the Konta Kistaram Area Committee under South Bastar Division surrendered before Bastar Range Inspector General of Police Sundarraj Pattingalam, Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan, Pankaj Meena Additional Superintendent of Police Alluri Sitarama Raju (Andhra Pradesh), Rohit Shah Additional Superintendent of Police Sukma, and CRPF 2IC Konta Range Arvind P. Anand.

The surrendering Naxals include ACM Sodhi Joga, resident of Singhanmadgu, Kistaram police station, Sukma district; Dabar Ganga alias Madkam Ganga, resident of Singaram, Golapalli; Sodhi Raje Golapalli LOS member, resident of Entapad, Chintagufa police station, Sukma district; and Madvi Budhri, Golapalli LOS member, resident of Singhanmadgu, Kistaram police station, Sukma district.

Sodhi Joga carries a Rs 5 lakh reward, while Dabar Ganga, Sodhi Raje, and Madvi Budhri each command Rs 1 lakh bounties. They deposited their SLR rifle along with several dangerous weapons to the police.Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan stated that they appeal to remaining Maoist cadres to promptly abandon violence, surrender, and avail themselves of the government's rehabilitation scheme to embark on a new life.

Bastar Range Inspector General of Police Sundarraj Pattingalam disclosed that on Friday, four active Maoist cadres in Sukma district embraced Chhattisgarh government's surrender and rehabilitation policy by forsaking the path of violence under the 'Poona Margegem – Rehabilitation to Rejuvenation' campaign.This clearly indicates the Maoist organization is hurtling toward extinction. Remote area security camps, improved road connectivity, sustained successful anti-Naxal operations, and effective outreach of development schemes have shrunk the organization's base areas while bolstering public trust in governance.

He urged remaining cadres that violence offers only destruction, whereas the 'Poona Margegem' campaign provides opportunities for peace, constructive life-building, and dignified existence—lay down arms, return to the mainstream; your secure future and positive life reconstruction remain the responsibility of the government and society.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar