Major blow to Maoist insurgency as 16 rebels surrender in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district
Published By : Bratati Baral
| June 2, 2025 2:44 PM
Malkangiri, June 2: In a significant development, 16 Maoist cadres have surrendered to police authorities in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh, close to the Odisha border near Malkangiri. Among those who laid down arms, two are reportedly high-profile Maoist leaders with a bounty of ₹16 lakh each on their heads. Earlier, the Chhattisgarh government had announced a reward of ₹25 lakh on six other surrendered Maoists.
Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chouhan confirmed that the surrendered cadres were involved in multiple violent incidents across Sukma, Bijapur, and Dantewada districts. He added that with the Maoist network weakening, these insurgents chose to surrender to save their lives.
The surrendered Maoists will undergo rehabilitation as per government policies, the SP said.
This surrender comes amid Operation Kagar, a large-scale anti-Maoist offensive launched by the Ministry of Home Affairs across forested regions in Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and adjoining states. The operation has mobilized over 10,000 security personnel aiming to dismantle Maoist strongholds.
While the security forces continue their crackdown on the insurgents, the wave of surrenders signals a deepening crisis and loss of morale within the Maoist ranks.
