Raipur . In Chhattisgarh, 9 Maoists with a total reward of Rs 47 lakh surrendered before the police on Friday. Officials said that now Raipur Police Range is free from Naxalite presence. All cadres operating in Dhamtari and Gariaband districts of Raipur range and adjacent Nuapada district of Odisha have either been killed or have surrendered.
Raipur Range IG Amrish Mishra said that on Friday, 9 Maoists carrying a total reward of Rs 47 lakh surrendered before the police in Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh, due to which Raipur Police Range became free from the presence of Naxalites.
Still affected in parts of Bastar range and Rajnandgaon
The IG said that the surrendered cadres laid down their arms before senior police officers. He cited disillusionment with the Maoist ideology, difficulties of life in the forests and the impact of the surrender and rehabilitation policy of the state government as the reason behind this. However, he also said that Maoist influence still continues in Bastar range and parts of Rajnandgaon district. Many cadres are still active there.
Reward of Rs 8 lakh each on two female Naxalites
All the 9 surrendered Maoists, including 7 women, belonged to Nagari and Sitanadi area committees and Mainpur Local Guerrilla Squad (LGS) operating under Dhamtari-Gariaband-Nuapara division of Odisha State Maoist Committee.
Among these, Sitanadi Area Committee Secretary Jyoti alias Jaini (28) and Divisional Committee member Usha alias Balamma (45) had a reward of Rs 8 lakh each. Six others – Ramdas Markam (30), Roni alias Uma (25), Niranjan alias Podia (25), Sindhu alias Somadi (25), Reena alias Chiro (25) and Amila alias Sunny (25) were carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh each. Apart from this, there was a reward of Rs 1 lakh on Lakshmi Punem (18). Balamma hails from Telangana, while the others are from different districts of Chhattisgarh.
Now there is no cadre in Raipur range
IG Mishra said all the listed cadres active in Dhamtari and Gariaband districts under Raipur range and adjacent Nuapada district of Odisha have either been killed or have surrendered or are no longer active. The surrendered Maoists also surrendered several weapons including two INSAS rifles, two SLRs, one carbine and one muzzle-loading gun.
More than 1500 surrender in Chhattisgarh in 2025
With this surrender, 189 Maoists have laid down their arms so far this year in Chhattisgarh. On January 19, 9 Maoists carrying a reward of Rs 45 lakh surrendered in Gariaband, while on January 15, 52 Maoists (total reward of more than Rs 1.41 crore) surrendered in Bijapur. The Center has set March 31 as the deadline to end left-wing extremism nationwide. More than 1500 Maoists have surrendered in Chhattisgarh in 2025.
