Woman Maoist with ₹17 lakh bounty surrenders in Chhattisgarh

Raipur: Kamala Sodi, a wanted Maoist operative with a ₹17 lakh bounty, surrendered to police on Thursday in Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai district, marking a major breakthrough in Chhattisgarh’s anti-Naxal campaign.

Sodi, also known by her aliases Ungi and Taruna, laid down arms in the presence of Rajnandgaon Range IG Abhishek Shandilya, SP Lakshya Sharma, and other senior officials. Her surrender is being seen as a strong endorsement of the state’s Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy-2025, which promotes reintegration through trust-building and development.

A native of Sukma’s Konta region, Sodi had been associated with the banned CPI (Maoist) since 2011. She operated under MMC Zone commander Ramdar and was involved in multiple violent incidents across Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh.

Officials said her decision followed sustained police pressure and intensified security operations. Sodi cited the state’s progressive rehabilitation policy as her reason for returning to mainstream life.

Under the surrender protocol, she was granted ₹50,000 and assured full support for reintegration. Authorities believe her move may inspire other Maoists to abandon violence, especially as the insurgency continues to weaken amid development efforts and community outreach.

IG Shandilya described the surrender as a symbolic shift, saying, This is not just a policing success, it’s a social message that transformation is possible through dialogue, not guns.

The administration remains hopeful that such gestures will accelerate defections and reinforce the message that peace and progress are the true path forward in conflict-hit regions.

(Inputs from IANS)