RAIPUR: In Bijapur district, south Bastar, a Maoist commander was neutralised in an encounter, while 12 other cadres, including eight women, renounced violence to join the mainstream on Thursday.
Acting on specific intelligence inputs regarding the presence of senior Maoist leaders in the Tarrem police station area, a joint team of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and elite CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) launched a search operation in the rugged hills and forests of South Bijapur.
“The encounter began on Thursday morning, and the intermittent gunfire continued throughout till noon. During a post-encounter search operation of the site, security forces recovered the body of Udham Singh, a Divisional Committee Member (DVCM) of the South Bastar Division”, said Jitendra Yadav, Bijapur district police chief.
Singh carried a government bounty of Rs 8 lakh on him. An AK-47 rifle, explosives and Maoist literature were also recovered by forces.
In another incident, 12 Maoist rebels, associated with the South Sub-Zonal Bureau, collectively carrying a bounty of Rs 54 lakh surrendered before senior officials in Bijapur.
The necessary official legal procedures are underway for the rehabilitation and reintegration of the 12 cadres into society.
The surrender was facilitated under the "Poona Marghem: Rehabilitation to Rejuvenation" initiative, a campaign focused on peace and trust-building in the conflict-torn region.
The surrendered individuals expressed their frustration in the violent hollow Maoist ideology and declared their allegiance to the Indian Constitution.
“Since January 2024, 231 Maoists have been killed, 888 Maoists surrendered and 1163 Maoists arrested so far”, the SP informed.
The police officials also stated that the continuous establishment of security camps and the effective reach of development schemes are causing the Maoist bases to shrink rapidly, paving the way for a "Maoist-free" Bastar.