In a significant development for Chhattisgarh, a total of 27 active Maoists, including two identified as “hardcore” members, surrendered to authorities in the Sukma district on Wednesday, October 15, 2025. These individuals collectively carried bounties amounting to a substantial ₹50 lakh.
The group comprised 17 men and 10 women. Police officials confirmed the surrender in a public statement, highlighting the impact of the state’s efforts to counter insurgency.
Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan provided further details on the bounties. Notably, 53-year-old Oyam Lakhmu, who served as a supply team commander for Head Quarter Platoon No. 2, had a reward of ₹10 lakh on his head. Additionally, three other Maoists each carried a reward of ₹8 lakh, and one had a ₹3 lakh bounty.
The remaining bounties included ₹2 lakh each for two individuals and ₹1 lakh each for nine others, bringing the grand total reward amount to ₹50 lakh for this group of surrendering insurgents.
According to Mr. Chavan, the decision by these individuals to lay down their arms was heavily influenced by the Chhattisgarh Government’s proactive “Chhattisgarh Naxalite Surrender Rehabilitation Policy” and the “Niyad Nella Nar” scheme, which aim to reintegrate Maoists into society.
The police official elaborated that continuous operations, including the establishment of camps in the region’s most sensitive interior areas, have bolstered the police’s influence. This, combined with growing disillusionment among local tribals regarding the “inhuman and baseless ideology” of the Maoists, coupled with increased exploitation, atrocities, and discrimination by external Maoist elements, contributed to the surrenders.
This event follows another notable surrender on October 10, when 16 Maoists, with a combined reward of ₹48 lakh, surrendered in Narayanpur. The year 2025 has seen several large-scale surrenders, including a group of 103 Maoists who gave up arms on October 2.
Earlier this month, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during a visit to Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region, reiterated the government’s firm stance, ruling out any talks with the Maoists and emphasizing a strong approach to tackling insurgency.