Overview

• A total of 22 Maoists, including nine women and 12 individuals with bounties totaling ₹40.5 lakh, surrendered to security forces in Sukma on April 18, 2025.
• High-ranking cadres among the group included a PLGA deputy commander and area committee leaders active in Chhattisgarh's Maad and Odisha's Nuapada divisions.
• The defectors cited disillusionment with Maoist ideology and atrocities on tribals, alongside being influenced by the state's 'Niyad Nellanar' development scheme and revamped surrender policy.
• Each surrendered Maoist received ₹50,000 in financial aid and entry into a rehabilitation program focused on vocational training and reintegration.
• The operation was facilitated by coordinated efforts from the Sukma police, DRG, CRPF, and CoBRA, reflecting a broader trend of declining Maoist strength in the Bastar region.