Dantewada, India, December 3: Thirty-seven Maoist insurgents, including 27 carrying a combined bounty of 6.5 million rupees ($77,800), surrendered to police in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district on Sunday, officials said, marking the latest in a series of mass defections in the conflict-hit Bastar region.
Police said the group laid down arms under the state’s rehabilitation policy, which offers a 50,000-rupee assistance package along with skill-development training and access to agricultural land. Four of those who surrendered were wanted with rewards of 800,000 rupees each.
Among them was Bhima, also known as Jahaj Kalmu, a member of Maoist “Company No. 02” who police say was involved in deadly attacks in 2019 and 2020 that killed 26 security personnel and left 20 injured. Another insurgent, Hungi, or Roshni Sodi, took part in a major encounter with security forces in 2024 in the forests of Gobel and Thulthuli, a senior officer said.
The surrender in Dantewada comes amid a broader pattern of desertions across Maoist strongholds. In recent days, groups of insurgents have surrendered in Narayanpur, Sukma, Bastar and Bijapur. Security officials say the trend reflects a weakening of Maoist lower cadres following the killing or surrender of several senior leaders.
P. Sundarraj, Inspector General of Police for the Bastar range, said 1,160 Maoists had surrendered in the region this year, including 333 with bounties on their heads. The group includes 916 men and 244 women from Dantewada and neighbouring districts. Last year, about 800 insurgents surrendered.
Dantewada Superintendent of Police Gaurav Rai said more than 508 Maoists had abandoned the movement in the district over the past 20 months, including 165 who carried rewards. “A large number of Maoists, from senior leadership to active cadres in their base areas, have left the organisation,” he said.
