Kanker Sees 21 Maoists, 13 Women, Give Up Arms

Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district witnessed a significant surrender on Sunday as 21 Maoist fighters, comprising 13 women, relinquished their weapons to authorities. This group surrendered under the ‘Poona Margem’ rehabilitation initiative, which aims to reintegrate surrendered rebels into civilian life. The surrender includes important figures within the Maoist hierarchy, such as Division Committee Secretary Mukesh, four divisional committee members, and nine area committee members. The remaining eight were part of the movement’s grassroots level. All members hailed from the Kuemari/Kiskodo Area Committee, a unit within the Keshkal Division of the CPI (Maoist). The surrendered weapons included a formidable array of firearms: three AK-47s, two INSAS rifles, four SLRs, six .303 rifles, two single-shot rifles, and a BGL. This latest surrender is part of a larger trend in the Bastar region, following substantial surrenders earlier in October. These events highlight the success of the police’s ongoing strategies to encourage defection and promote peace.