Raipur, In a major breakthrough for Chhattisgarh’s anti-Naxal initiative, 210 Maoist cadres, including 110 women, from the Dandakaranya region have surrendered and returned to the mainstream under the ‘Puna Margem – Rehabilitation to Rebirth’ programme. This large-scale surrender is one of the most significant milestones in the state’s ongoing campaign to tackle Naxalism and restore peace in the Bastar division.
The event was held on Friday at the Jagdalpur Police Lines. The surrendered group, which included cadres previously active in the dense Abujhmad forests and North Bastar, participated in a traditional Manjhi-Chalaki ceremony, signifying reconciliation. Each surrendered individual was presented with a copy of the Constitution of India and a red rose, representing peace and hope for a life free from violence.
The surrendered group includes high-profile operatives such as a Central Committee Member (CCM), four DKSZC members, one Regional Committee Member (RCM), and twenty-one Divisional Committee Members. In total, the group comprises sixty-one Area Committee members, ninety-eight party members, and twenty-two lower-rung cadres. Among the prominent leaders who surrendered are CCM Rupesh alias Satish, DKSZC member Bhaskar alias Rajman Mandvi, Ranita, Raju Salam, Dhannu Vetti alias Santu, and RCM Ratan Alam.
The cadres also handed over a significant cache of 153 sophisticated weapons. This arsenal included 19 AK-47 rifles, 17 SLR rifles, 23 INSAS rifles, one INSAS Light Machine Gun (LMG), 36 .303 rifles, four carbines, 11 BGL launchers, 41 single-shot or 12 bore guns, and one pistol.
The surrender is the direct result of the state government’s comprehensive Naxal eradication policy, which prioritises peace, dialogue, and inclusive development under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai. Over the last year, coordinated efforts by the police, paramilitary forces, local administration, and social organisations have steadily replaced fear with trust.
Officials briefed the former cadres on various rehabilitation and welfare schemes. These schemes are designed to ensure their long-term integration into mainstream society and include provisions for housing support, education, skill development, and sustainable employment opportunities. At the ceremony’s conclusion, all surrendered cadres pledged allegiance to the Constitution and committed to contributing to the nation’s development.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Friday said that the mass surrender of 210 Maoist cadres in Jagdalpur marks the beginning of a new era of peace, trust, and development in Chhattisgarh and the Bastar region. The cadres, who had lived under the shadow of violence for years, renounced arms and embraced the Constitution under the ‘Poona Margem – From Rehabilitation to Rejuvenation’ programme. CM Sai, while addressing a press conference, said the event was historic for the entire state and the nation.
The Chief Minister noted that the youth, once trapped in the false ideology of Maoism, have now reposed their faith in the power of democracy, the ideals of the Constitution, and the sensitive policies of the State Government. He added that this unprecedented return to the social mainstream is a decisive step toward eradicating the roots of violence from the region.
Describing the moment as one of the most emotional and satisfying in his life, CM Sai stated that the youth, by laying down their guns and picking up the Constitution, have “sown the seeds of peace and unity” in Chhattisgarh’s future. He stressed that the State Government’s Naxalite Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy 2025, ‘Niyad Nella Nar Yojana’, and the ‘Poona Margem’ programme are the strong foundations driving this transformation across Bastar.
Chief Minister Sai attributed the success to the coordinated efforts of the Central and State Governments, stating that it was achieved through policy and trust, not through fear and violence. He reaffirmed the double-engine government’s commitment to making Chhattisgarh completely free of Naxalism under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The Chief Minister assured full commitment to the rehabilitation and reintegration of the surrendered cadres. He confirmed that every individual would be provided opportunities for self-employment, training, housing, education, and livelihood to ensure they lead a dignified life and contribute actively to society’s development.
CM Sai concluded that the goal is not merely to end Naxalism, but to build a new Bastar that will emerge as a model of peace and transformation for the entire nation. Deputy Chief Ministers Arun Sao and Vijay Sharma, Director General of Police Arun Dev Gautam, and senior Central Armed Police Forces officers were among those present at the event.