Malkangiri (Odisha)-In a major setback to the waning Maoist movement, twelve hardcore rebels laid down arms near the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border, marking another significant moment in the region’s fight against left-wing extremism. The surrender took place in the forested areas bordering Malkangiri district in Odisha and Dantewada district in Chhattisgarh.
According to senior police officials, the surrendered individuals had been active in Maoist ranks for years and were involved in several acts of violence. Out of the twelve, nine carried a combined reward of Rs28 lakh as declared by the Chhattisgarh government for their arrest or elimination.
Authorities credit sustained anti-Maoist operations, community outreach, and the government’s attractive surrender and rehabilitation policies for influencing the decision of these extremists. The Maoists reportedly said that continuous combing operations, the death of senior leaders, and growing dissatisfaction with the Maoist ideology led them to abandon the path of violence.
A senior police officer highlighted the role of rehabilitation schemes in helping former Maoists reintegrate into society. He confirmed that the surrendered cadres would receive benefits as per state and central government guidelines to help them begin new lives.
This surrender adds to the growing list of Maoist rebels leaving the movement. So far, 1,005 Maoists have surrendered in Chhattisgarh alone, with 205 of them having government-declared bounties. Security forces believe this trend will continue in the coming months, further weakening the organizational backbone of the insurgency in central India.
