Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, November 28, 2025 — Ten Naxal cadres, including senior Maoist leader Chaitu (alias Shyam Dada), surrendered to police and CRPF officials in Bastar district on Friday under the ‘Poona Margem’ initiative, authorities said.

The surrendered cadres included three women, and collectively, they carried a reward of ₹65 lakh on their heads. Inspector General of Police Sundarraj Pattilingam described the surrenders as a sign of the declining influence of the violent Maoist ideology in the region.

Chaitu, originally Giraddi Pavanand Reddy from Warangal, Telangana, joined the outlawed CPI (Maoist) in 1985. He moved to Dandakaranya in 1991-92, rising from a ‘dalam’ member to commander and divisional committee member. In 2007, he became part of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) and was currently in charge of the Darbha division, carrying a ₹25 lakh reward. He was reportedly involved in several deadly Maoist attacks in Bastar.

Other cadres who surrendered include:

• Saroj alias Malku Sodhi, divisional committee member (₹8 lakh reward)
• Bhupesh alias Sanak Ram Furami, Prakash, Kamlesh alias Jhitru Yadav, Janni alias Raymati Salam, Santosh, Ramsheela alias Bukli Salam — area committee members (₹5 lakh each)
• Naveen alias Bhaju Salam and Jayati alias Manai Kashyap, party members (₹1 lakh each)

IGP Pattilingam noted that remaining Maoist leaders, including Politburo member Devji and Central Committee members Ramdar and Paparao, still have the opportunity to renounce violence.

In the last 23 months, more than 2,200 Naxalites, including top cadres, have surrendered in Chhattisgarh, highlighting the impact of government initiatives and outreach programs.