Raipur: In a notable event, 21 Maoist cadres, including a division committee secretary, laid down their arms and surrendered to the police in Kanker district, situated within Chhattisgarh’s Bastar Range, on Sunday. The Bastar Range Police confirmed that these individuals were part of the Kuemari/Kiskodo Area Committee, affiliated with the Keshkal Division of the CPI (Maoist).
The surrendered group included Mukesh, who held the position of division committee secretary, along with four Division Vice Committee Members (DVCMs), nine Area Committee Members (ACMs), and eight other party members, according to an official statement. Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) P. Sundarraj commented on the development, stating, “These cadres have realised the futility of violence and chosen to return to the mainstream to rebuild their lives. The Bastar police remain committed to ensuring their smooth reintegration into society.”
Among the 21 individuals who surrendered, 13 were women and eight were men. All expressed a shared desire to leave behind the path of armed struggle and embrace peace and progress.
During the surrender ceremony, the Maoist cadres turned over 18 weapons to the authorities. These included three AK-47 rifles, four SLRs, two INSAS rifles, six .303 rifles, two single-shot rifles, and one Barrel Grenade Launcher (BGL). Police officials have indicated that the necessary legal and procedural steps for the rehabilitation and reintegration of the surrendered individuals are currently in progress.
“Further details regarding the surrender and the rehabilitation process will be shared in due course,” added IG Sundarraj.
This latest group surrender is part of a broader trend of desertions from the CPI (Maoist) ranks, particularly from the North Sub-Zonal Bureau, observed in recent weeks. In fact, a total of 238 Maoists have reportedly abandoned violence and rejoined the mainstream in the third week of October alone. This surge in surrenders includes significant figures, such as a Central Committee (CC) member who surrendered earlier in October along with approximately 210 other Maoists in Jagdalpur, Bastar district.