RAIPUR: A total of 21 cadres, including 13 women, of the banned outfit CPI (Maoist) surrendered along with 18 weapons in Kanker district on Sunday.
The cadres are from the Kuemari/Kiskodo Area Committee of the Keshkal Division (North Sub Zonal Bureau), including division committee secretary Mukesh. They allegedly decided to give up arms under the ‘Poona Margham: Rehabilitation through Reintegration’ initiative.
“Yet another significant task under the ‘Poona Margham: Rehabilitation through Reintegration’ initiative was accomplished in Kanker (north Bastar region) today. As many as 21 Maoist cadres decided to shun the path of armed movement, renounced the ideology based on violence and joined the social mainstream to live a dignified life,” said Sundarraj Pattlingam, Bastar Range inspector general of police.
Those who surrendered in Kanker included four Divisional Committee Members (DVCM), nine Area Committee Members (ACM) and eight other members of the outlawed organisation.
The surrendered cadres, led by Naxal commander Mukesh, handed over three AK-47 rifles, four self-loading rifles (SLR), two INSAS assault rifles, six .303 rifles, two single-shot rifles and one Barrel Grenade Launcher (BGL).
“Official legal procedures are being carried out for the rehabilitation and reintegration of all 21 cadres into the society. Those who have returned today will become ambassadors of peace, development, and trust in Bastar region,” said the IG.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said the move to give up the armed struggle marked the collapse of Left-wing extremism in the country.
In the Bastar region, over 300 cadres have relinquished the ideology of CPI (Maoist) in October alone. Since the BJP came to power in December 2023 in Chhattisgarh, over 2,200 Maoists have surrendered in the state.