Bijapur, December 16: Thirty-four Naxalites, including seven women, surrendered in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, with 26 of them carrying a collective bounty of Rs 84 lakh. The surrender took place under the "Poona Margem" rehabilitation initiative, aimed at reintegrating former Maoists into society, according to Bijapur SP Jitendra Yadav.

The surrendered cadres were affiliated with the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC), Telangana State Committee, and the Andhra Odisha Border division. Key surrendering members include Pandru Punem, Rukni Hemla, Deva Uika, Ramlal Poyam, and Motu Punem, all of whom had a reward of Rs 8 lakh each.

Under the state's rehabilitation policy, each surrendered cadre will receive an immediate cash assistance of Rs 50,000, along with skill development training and other government support. The state's initiative has already seen over 2,200 Naxals, including senior leaders, surrender in the past two years. The Centre has set a target to eliminate Naxalism by 2026.