Raipur

Seven Naxalites, including four women, surrendered before security forces in Bastar on Tuesday, just hours before the Centre’s deadline to eliminate Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in the country.

According to officials, five of the cadres belonged to the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee of Maoists and laid down arms before senior police and Central Reserve Police Force officials at the Dantewada Police Lines.

Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj Pattlingam said the cadres, who carried a total bounty of Rs 9 lakh, surrendered under the “Poona Margem” rehabilitation initiative, aimed at facilitating their return to mainstream society.

Among those who surrendered, Some Kadti (42), a Bhairamgarh Area Committee member, carried a reward of Rs 5 lakh, while four others—Lakhma Oyam (19), Sarita Podyam (21), Jogi Kalmu (20), and Moti Oyam (19)—had bounties of Rs 1 lakh each.

Based on information provided by the surrendered cadres, security forces recovered 40 weapons from Maoist hideouts in the region. The cache included SLR rifles, INSAS rifles, a carbine, a .303 rifle, and multiple grenade launchers, dealing a significant blow to the group’s operational capacity.

In a separate development in Kanker district, two more Maoist cadres—Shankar and Hidma Dodi—also surrendered, handing over an AK-47 rifle.

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Officials said efforts are ongoing to persuade other active Maoists to give up arms and join the mainstream. With the surrender and rehabilitation window nearing closure, authorities urged remaining cadres to abandon violence and embrace a peaceful life.