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Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
66 Maoists carrying cash bounty of Rs 2.31cr surrender in Chhattisgarh
RAIPUR: As many as 66 Maoists, including 49 top rank cadres carrying a cumulative bounty of Rs 2.31crore, on Thursday surrendered before police and paramilitary officials across five districts of Chhattisgarh's Bastar division. There were four women Maoists among those who surrendered. About 1,570 Maoists have renounced violence and surrendered in the past 18 months. Most of the top-ranking Maoists who surrendered were from Bijapur district. These cadres include state zonal committee member (SZCM) Ramanna Irpa, carrying cash bounty of Rs 25 lakh. He surrendered along with 24 others. They carried a total bounty of Rs 1.15 crore. "Maoists, with a bounty of Rs 2.31crore, have surrendered in Bastar division under the 'Poona Margham' (rehabilitation and social integration) campaign," Bastar range IGP P Sundarraj said. Ramanna alias Jagdish alias Vikesh, a 37-year-old SZCM from Bijapur, was considered the "nerve centre" of Maoist operations in the Red Corridor linking Malkangiri in Odisha, Sukma, and Bijapur in Chhattisgarh. He was active since 2002 and commanded company number 8. Ramanna oversaw jungle warfare training, arms procurement, and coordinated major attacks on security forces across Odisha and Chhattisgarh and was involved in at least 40 incidents of violence. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Access all TV channels anywhere, anytime Techno Mag Learn More Undo "I joined the Maoist organisation inspired by the 'Jal-Jungle-Jameen' campaign. But, in the past 25 years, promises that the organisations made were never met and no development done. It's a hollow ideology," Ramanna told mediapersons in Bijapur. "This transformation is not a coincidence, but a clear testament to the widespread acceptance of our govt's surrender and rehabilitation policy and welfare-oriented initiatives. Programmes like the Niyad Nellanar Yojana have laid a strong foundation of trust in tribal-dominated regions," Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai said. In Dantewada district, 15 Maoists surrendered, including five carrying a total reward of Rs 17lakh. Budhram alias Lalu - a DVCM -- and his wife Kamli alias Moti Potavi, an area committee member, topped the list, with bounties of Rs 8lakh and Rs 5lakh, respectively. The duo was associated with the movement for over two decades. Another major surrender unfolded in Kanker district with 13 Maoists, carrying a combined bounty of Rs 62lakh. The most high-profile among them was Manglu alias Rupesh alias Arun Komra, a military company number one commander, wanted for a series of deadly ambushes between 2006 and 2024. He carried a bounty of Rs 10lakh.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- The Hindu
66 Maoists surrender in five Bastar districts in Chhattisgarh
As many as 66 Maoist cadres, carrying a combined bounty of ₹2.54 crore, surrendered in five districts of Chhattisgarh's Bastar division on Thursday (July 24, 2025). A bulk of them, 25, surrendered in Bijapur while 15 surrendered in Dantewada, said Bastar Inspector General of Police P. Sundarraj. While 13 surrendered in Kanker district, eight and five Maoists laid down arms in Narayanpur and Sukma districts respectively. The surrendered cadres include one sub-zonal committee member or SZCM carrying a reward of ₹25 lakh and four divisional committee members who are considered relatively higher up in the Maoists military formation. Over the past 18 months, 1,570 Maoists have surrendered in the Bastar division, the police added. 'With the establishment of new security camps in the interior regions, and improved access to roads, transport, drinking water, electricity, and other public welfare schemes, development is now reaching the remotest villages. The growing trust between local communities and security forces — nurtured through community policing and awareness efforts — has significantly contributed to this wave of surrenders,' said Mr. Sundarraj. ₹50,000 given as initial help Each surrendered member was provided a cheque for ₹50,000 as an initial incentive to support their reintegration into society. Further benefits under the government's surrender and rehabilitation policy are being processed, the IG added. Speaking to journalists in Bijapur, one of the surrendered Maoists said that continuous security operations by the forces in the hilly terrains had also shrunk the area of influence where they lived in relative safety earlier. Mr. Sundarraj said appeals to Maoist cadres to give up violence and return to the mainstream were showing encouraging results. 'The surrender of 66 cadres, including a State-level committee member, across five districts in a single day is a strong indication that the Naxal outfit is approaching its end,' he said.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Chhattisgarh: 25 Maoists including top SZCM surrender in Bijapur with collective bounties worth Rs 1.15 cr
RAIPUR: In a major blow to the CPI (Maoists), 25 hardcore cadres, including a top State Zonal Committee Member (SZCM) carrying a bounty of Rs 25 lakh, surrendered before senior police and paramilitary officials in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh's Bastar region on Thursday. The total bounty on the surrendered Maoists amounts to Rs 1.15 crore. The surrender was facilitated under the Chhattisgarh government's revised surrender and rehabilitation policy and senior police officials briefing the press said that it marks a turning point in the state's sustained counter-insurgency efforts, particularly in deep forested zones like Bijapur, where new security camps and road infrastructure have begun reaching previously untouched areas. The highest-ranking surrender was Ramanna Irpa alias Jagdish alias Vikesh, a 37-year-old SZCM and commander-in-chief of Company number 8, who was active since 2002 and carried a Rs 25 lakh bounty. He was strategist behind multiple high-profile ambushes on security forces in Odisha and Chhattisgarh and his job was to oversee arms supply, jungle warfare training camps, and inter-state coordination. Police said that as per the records, he was active since 2002 and was considered the 'nerve center' of CPI (Maoist) operations in Odisha's southern corridor and had been operating in the 'Red Triangle' between Malkangiri, Sukma, and Bijapur. Another cadre Sukku Kalmu alias Vinod Karma on the rank of Divisional Committee Member (DVCM) operated in National Park Area Committee and led Maoist student fronts. He carried Rs 8 lakh bounty and was active since1999. He was known for radicalizing tribal youth through front organizations and leading armed protests. Played a key role in enforcing Maoist rule in the Abujhmarh forest belt. Police officials, including Bastar Range IG P Sundarraj, Dantewada DIG Kamalochan Kashyap, and Bijapur SP Jitendra Kumar Yadav, along with CRPF, CoBRA and DRG were present during the formal surrender. SP Yadav said, 'This is a significant dent in the Maoist leadership hierarchy. The surrender of an SZCM shows the ideological and operational breakdown within the outfit.' In statements made during the debriefing, many Maoists cited internal dissent, exploitation within the outfit, and disillusionment with extremist ideology as major reasons for quitting. Several cadres mentioned their desire to 'rejoin the mainstream' and live peaceful lives with their families. SP Jitendra Yadav urged remaining Maoist operatives to abandon violence and take advantage of the government's rehabilitation scheme. 'The door to peaceful and dignified life is wide open. Your families want you back. Leave the false promises of outside elements behind,' he appealed. Since January 2025, Bijapur district has witnessed intensified anti-Maoist operations, resulting in significant setbacks for the insurgent network. Over this period, 242 Maoists have surrendered, choosing to join the mainstream under the state's rehabilitation policy. In addition, 300 cadres have been arrested, and 127 Maoists have been killed in various encounters across the region.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
2 more from Andhra Pradesh among Naxals killed in encounter
Hyderabad: Two senior Maoist leaders from Andhra Pradesh are believed to have been killed in the recent encounter in Chhattisgarh, top sources confirmed on Tuesday. Among them is Sajja Venkata Nageswara Rao , better known by his aliases Rajanna, Yesanna, or Jang Naveen, a key figure who headed the Maoist journal 'Jung'. He was serving as a Special Zonal Committee Member (SZCM) of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC). The second leader reported dead is Madhu, also an SZCM-level cadre in the same region. However, officials from Andhra Pradesh Police said they were awaiting formal confirmation from their Chhattisgarh counterparts regarding the identities. Naveen (60) hailed from Rama village of Jandrapet in Chirala mandal of Prakasam district. He was from middle-class background and joined the Maoist movement early, influenced by People's War Group activities in his native region. He was fluent in Telugu and was known to carry an AK-47. The AP govt had announced a reward of Rs 20 lakh on him.
