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Major Blow to Maoists: 11 Rebels with ₹82 Lakh Bounty Surrender in Gadchiroli

In a significant development for security forces, 11 Maoists carrying hefty rewards surrendered in Gadchiroli. The group included a prominent figure, Ramesh, who faced 88 cases. Police officials attribute this to growing disillusionment with the banned outfit's violent methods. This event is part of a broader trend that has seen hundreds surrender under the state's rehabilitation policy.

Key Points: 11 Maoists with Rs 82 Lakh Bounty Surrender in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli

  • 11 Maoists surrendered with a combined bounty of ₹82 lakhs before DGP Rashmi Shukla
  • Key surrender was Ramesh, with 88 cases and a ₹16 lakh reward against him
  • Police cite disillusionment with Maoist ideology and state policy as key reasons
  • This follows two other major mass surrenders earlier in 2024, weakening rebel influence
3 min read

11 Maoists with combined bounty of Rs 82 lakh surrender in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli (Ld)

In a major success, 11 Maoists carrying a combined reward of ₹82 lakh surrendered before Maharashtra DGP Rashmi Shukla in Gadchiroli, weakening rebel influence.

"These officers and personnel, without regard for their own lives, entered an extremely remote forest area and achieved remarkable success. - DGP Rashmi Shukla"

Nagpur, Dec 10

As many as 11 Maoists carrying a combined reward of Rs 82 lakh surrendered before the police in Maharashtra's Maoist-hit Gadchiroli on Wednesday, marking a major success for the state police in its efforts to weaken the red rebels' influence in the region.

Officials said all 11 Maoists had been involved in violent activities for decades together and were active across Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. They all surrendered before Maharashtra Director General of Police Rashmi Shukla at an event organised in Gadchiroli.

Of the 11, four of them surrendered along with their weapons and Maoist uniforms.

Prominent among them was Ramesh, also known as Bhima or Baju Guddi Lekami, who had carried a reward of Rs 16 lakh and 88 cases registered against him in Gadchiroli alone, including 43 encounters, eight arson cases and 37 other offences. His involvement in cases in other states is under verification. He had joined the banned organisation in 2004.

Apart from the DGP, senior police officers, including Additional DGP (Special Operations) Chhering Dorje, were also present on the occasion. They were on a two-day visit to Gadchiroli from Tuesday.

The police said that growing disillusionment with Maoist ideology and frustration with the violence inflicted on civilians have pushed many members of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) to consider rehabilitation under the state's Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy, introduced in 2005.

According to officials, 783 Maoists have surrendered before the Gadchiroli Police so far under this programme.

The latest development follows two major mass surrenders earlier this year. On January 1 this year, 11 Maoists, including Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee member Tarakka Sidam, surrendered before the state leadership. Later, on October 15, Politburo and central committee member Mallojula Venugopal Rao, also known as Bhupathi or Sonu, along with 61 senior cadres, surrendered before Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

The police said these setbacks have significantly weakened Maoist influence across Gadchiroli and the wider Dandakaranya region.

During the DGP's visit, a programme was held at Eklavya Hall, where C-60 officers and personnel were felicitated for their role in securing the surrender of 61 Maoists in the Laheri forest area.

The DGP said, "These officers and personnel, without regard for their own lives, entered an extremely remote forest area and achieved remarkable success." She appealed to remaining armed cadres to lay down their weapons and "join the mainstream of democracy to live a life of dignity."

The DGP also released a guidebook titled "Project Udaan - A Glimpse of Development: Government Scheme Handbook", prepared by the Gadchiroli Police to help officers share information about state welfare schemes in remote regions.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As someone who has read about the conflict for years, this is a significant psychological blow to the Maoist structure. 783 surrenders is not a small number. The focus now must be on genuine rehabilitation so they don't feel compelled to return.
P
Priyanka N
Bhima had 88 cases against him? 43 encounters? It's hard to fully welcome someone with that history. I hope the justice system is still followed and victims get closure. Surrender is good, but accountability is also important.
A
Aman W
Project Udaan is a smart move. Often, youth in these areas join because of a lack of opportunities and awareness. Taking government schemes directly to them can address the root cause. Development is the ultimate solution to Naxalism.
K
Karthik V
The C-60 commandos deserve all the praise. Working in those dense, remote forests of Gadchiroli is no joke. Their bravery is saving lives on both sides. Jai Hind!
M
Meera T
A life of dignity in the mainstream is what every parent wants for their child. I hope these surrendered cadres get proper training and jobs. The article says they are disillusioned with the ideology—that's the key point. The narrative is changing.

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