25 people including 5 dreaded Naxalites surrendered in Chhattisgarh, they had a reward of Rs 28 lakh on their heads

Police and security forces have achieved a major success in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh. A senior police officer said that 25 Naxalites have surrendered, out of which five had a reward of Rs 28 lakh on their heads. All have surrendered in Bijapur district. The officer said that two women are also included among the 25 Naxalites active in the Gangalur and Bhairamgarh area committees of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist).

According to the news agency report, ‘two women, Shambathi Madkam (23) and Jyothi Punem (27), and Mahesh Telam were active in Company No. 2 of the Maoists and had a reward of Rs 8 lakh on their heads.

Bijapur SP Jitendra Kumar Yadav said that Madkam was active since 2012 and was involved in the Minpa attack in Sukma in 2020. 17 security personnel lost their lives in this attack. Apart from this, she was also involved in the Tekalgudem (Bijapur) attack in 2021, in which 22 security personnel were killed.

Punem and Telam were involved in an encounter in Bijapur’s Pidia village in May this year in which 12 Naxals were killed. Platoon no 16 ‘B’ section deputy commander Vishnu Kartam alias Monu (29) and Jaidev Podiyam (18), Mirtur LOS (local organisation squad) PLGA members, had a reward of Rs 3 lakh and Rs 1 lakh on their heads,’ the SP said.

The two others who surrendered, Guddu Kakem (20) and Sudru Punem (32), had a reward of Rs 10,000 on their heads, the official said. According to the police, the Naxalites surrendered citing frustration over the hollow Maoist ideology and atrocities on tribals by the outfit leaders, he said, adding, each of those who laid down arms was provided assistance of Rs 25,000 and they will be rehabilitated as per the government policy.