The operation, which commenced on Sunday, resulted in the deaths of several senior Maoist cadres. A significant cache of weapons, including automatic firearms like SLR rifles, was seized during the mission, dealing a severe blow to the insurgents' operational strength.

In a related development, the Maoist cadres from the Kutul area committee surrendered before law enforcement authorities. Narayanpur SP Prabhat Kumar revealed that they turned themselves in to the police, Border Security Force (BSF), and Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) officials, citing disillusionment with the organization’s ideology. According to Kumar, the defectors expressed frustration over the “hollow” Maoist ideology and internal conflicts within the banned group.

Kumar added that the cadres were also inspired by the ongoing development work in the Maad area of Narayanpur. Rapid infrastructure projects, including the construction of roads, have played a crucial role in changing their outlook. The former Naxals expressed their desire to leave behind the path of violence and lead a “normal life” instead, he said.

The surrendered individuals were reportedly involved in various roles within the Maoist organization, including positions in Janatana Sarkar, militia, and Chetna Natya Mandli (CNM), a cultural propaganda wing of the insurgents. Kumar described the surrender as a major victory for the security forces in their efforts to weaken the Maoist network.

This latest surrender brings the total number of defectors in Narayanpur district to 71 cadres, comprising both senior and lower-ranking members, since January 2024. In the same period, over 60 Maoists have been killed and 50 arrested in ongoing operations, underlining the intensified crackdown on insurgency in the region.

Nine Naxalites Carrying Cumulative Rs 52-Lakh Reward Surrender in Sukma District

In a major success for anti-Naxal operations, nine Naxalites, mostly women, surrendered in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district on Thursday, according to an official report. These individuals had a cumulative bounty of Rs 52 lakh on their heads. Among the defectors were two couples, all of whom decided to leave the armed rebellion, denouncing its “inhuman and hollow ideology.”

The surrendered Naxals include Kalmu Mangdu and his wife Madvi Budhri, along with Midiyam Sukka, alias Sameer, and his wife Rajni, alias Raje. Other women cadres—Shanti Kawasi, Madkam Somdi, Nuppo Narsi, Madkam Hidme, and Nuppo Hungi—also gave up their weapons and ideology, the official added.

Notably, Kalmu Mangdu served as a deputy commander in PLGA battalion No. 1, under the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist), and was involved in a significant encounter in 2020. His wife, Budhri, was also part of the South Bastar Division battalion No. 1. Sameer, a communication team commander in the same battalion, had played a crucial role in the 2017 Burkapal gunfight, where 25 security personnel were killed. His wife, Raje, was associated with the Chetna Natya Mandli (CNM), a propaganda and cultural wing of the Maoists.

The other surrendered cadres also held key roles. Shanti Kawasi was active in PLGA battalion No. 1, while Madkam Somdi was a People's Party Committee Member (PPCM) in battalion No. 8, the official explained. Six of these cadres—Mangdu, Budhri, Sameer, Raje, Kawasi, and Somdi—each carried a reward of Rs 8 lakh, totaling Rs 48 lakh.

The remaining three members, Nuppo Narsi, Madkam Hidme, and Nuppo Hungi, were part of various other Maoist units. Narsi served in the Local Organisation Squad (LOS), while Hidme was an agriculture member for the South Bastar Division, and Hungi held the position of president of the Krantikari Adivasi Mahila Sangathan (KAMS). Narsi carried a Rs 2-lakh reward, while Hidme and Hungi had bounties of Rs 1 lakh each.

During the surrender, the Naxalites openly criticized the “inhuman and hollow” ideology of the Maoist movement. They praised the state government's ongoing efforts to eradicate Naxalism and acknowledged the positive impact of the Sukma police's rehabilitation initiative, known as ‘Niyad Nellanar.’ The scheme aims to ensure that basic infrastructure and welfare programs reach villages previously affected by Naxal activities.

Under the government's surrender and rehabilitation policy, all nine defectors will now be eligible for benefits designed to help former Naxal members integrate into the national mainstream and begin a peaceful life. Officials believe that this move will further weaken the Naxal stronghold in the region and encourage others to follow a similar path toward surrender and rehabilitation.