Overview
- Officials said the group carried a combined bounty of about Rs 2.36 crore and included four women from the Kanha‑Bhoramdeo unit of the MMC zone.
- They handed over automatic weapons and equipment, including AK‑47s, INSAS rifles, an SLR, single‑shot rifles, BGL cells, detonators and walkie‑talkies.
- The cadres laid down arms before Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, who declared Mandla and Dindori Maoist‑free, announced new camps and 882 posts, and reiterated an early‑2026 elimination timeline.
- Hawk Force intelligence established contact through a trusted forest guard in the Kanha Tiger Reserve, persuading the group—led by Surendar alias Kabir and senior cadre Rakesh Hodi—to surrender after late‑night handovers.
- Related reporting the next day confirmed a separate surrender in Chhattisgarh, where CCM Ramdher and 11 others gave up arms in Rajnandgaon, further degrading MMC‑zone leadership.