41 Naxalites surrender in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur; 32 of them carried Rs 1.19 crore bounty

BIJAPUR: Forty one Naxalites, 32 of them collectively carrying a reward of Rs 1.19 crore on their heads, surrendered in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on Wednesday, officials said.

The cadres, including 12 women, turned themselves in before senior police officials here, citing they were impressed by the government’s new surrender and rehabilitation policy and “Poona Margham” (rehabilitation for social reintegration drive of Bastar range police), Bijapur Superintendent of Police Jitendra Kumar Yadav said.committees, 11 platoon and area committee party members, two PLGA members, four militia platoon commanders, one deputy commander, six militia platoon members, and the remaining belonged to frontal outfits of outlawed CPI (Maoist), he said.

Thirty-nine of these 41 cadres belonged to the south sub-zonal bureau of Maoists.

They all were associated with the Dandakaranya special zonal committee, Telangana state committee, and the Dhamtari-Gariaband-Nuapada divisions of the banned outfit, the official said.Under the rehabilitation policy, each cadre was given an immediate financial assistance of Rs 50,000 as an incentive, he said.

Among those who surrendered, Pandru Hapka alias Mohan (37), Bandi Hapka (35), Lakkhu Korsa (37), Badru Punem (35), Sukhram Hemla (27), Manjula Hemla (25), Mangali Madvi alias Shanti (29), Jairam Kadiyam (28) and Pando Madkam alias Chandni (35) carried a reward of Rs 8 lakh each, he said.Yadav said the state government’s rehabilitation policy has been encouraging Maoists to give up violence and return to the mainstream. He appealed to the remaining Maoists to abandon the path of violence.

“Maoists should shed misleading and violent ideologies and return to society without fear.

The ‘Poona Margham’ drive ensures a secure, respectable, and self-reliant future for those who surrender,” he said.

Besides, three cadres carried a bounty of Rs 5 lakh each, 12 cadres Rs 2 lakh each, and 8 cadres Rs 1 lakh each, he said.

Among them, four were members of PLGA (People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army) battalion no.1 and different companies of Maoists, three