Sukma sees major naxalite surrender: 26 maoists, including 7 women, lay down arms; 13 had Rs 65 lakh bounty

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu) : The anti-Naxal operation in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh has achieved a major success. A total of 26 Naxalites have surrendered to the police. Seven women are among those who surrendered. Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan stated that 13 of these Naxalites had a total bounty of ₹6.5 million (US$1.2 million) on their heads. Influenced by the state government's "Poona Margem" (New Path) initiative and surrender-rehabilitation policy, they decided to return to the mainstream.

According to police, the surrendered Naxalites were active in the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) battalions, the South Bastar Division, the Maad Division, and the Andhra-Odisha Border Division. These cadres have been involved in several Naxalite incidents in Abujhmad, Sukma, and the Odisha border areas.

Lali alias Muchaki had a reward of Rs 10 lakh on him

Among those who surrendered was Lali alias Muchaki Ayate Lakhmu (35), a member of the Company Party Committee. There was a reward of Rs 10 lakh on him. According to the police, Muchaki was involved in several major violent incidents, including the IED blast on Koraput Road in Odisha in 2017, in which 14 security personnel were killed. Apart from this, a reward of Rs 8 lakh each was announced on the four persons - Hemla Lakhma (41), Asmita alias Kamalu Sunny (20), Rambati alias Padam Jogi (21) and Sundaram Pale (20).

Lakhma was involved in the Minpa attack

Police officials said that Hemla Lakhma was also involved in the 2020 Minpa attack, which killed 17 security personnel. Among the other surrendered Naxalites, three had a reward of Rs 5 lakh each, one Rs 3 lakh, one Rs 2 lakh, and three Rs 1 lakh each. All surrendered Naxalites have been immediately given an assistance amount of Rs 50,000 each, and their rehabilitation process will be initiated as per government policy.