In a significant setback to the Naxalite movement and a major achievement for security forces, a high-profile woman Maoist carrying a combined reward of ₹17 lakh surrendered before authorities in Chhattisgarh’s Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai (KCG) district on Thursday. The development marks one of the most important surrenders in recent months and reflects the growing impact of the state government’s renewed surrender and rehabilitation policies across the Maoist-affected regions of central India.

The surrendered cadre, identified as Kamla Sodi, aged around 30, had been an active and influential member of the Maoist network for the last 14 years. Officials described her as a “hardcore” operative deeply embedded in the organisational and military modules of the banned CPI (Maoist). Her surrender took place in the presence of senior police officials, including KCG Superintendent of Police Lakshya Sharma, who later confirmed the details to the press.

A Notorious Cadre Across Three States

Kamla Sodi’s involvement with the CPI (Maoist) spanned more than a decade, during which she operated in two major Maoist strongholds: the Maaad division of Bastar in Chhattisgarh, and the tri-state Madhya Pradesh-Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh (MMC) zone. This region has historically been one of the most difficult terrains for security forces and has witnessed several high-intensity encounters over the years.

Sodi’s role in the organisation extended far beyond routine cadre responsibilities. According to police officials, she was deeply involved in recruitment drives, propaganda dissemination, strategic planning of attacks on security forces, and other high-risk operational activities. She was also part of a core military team led by Ramdar, one of the most wanted commanders within the MMC zone. Owing to her long-standing involvement in Maoist activities across state borders, police departments in Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh had jointly announced a bounty of ₹17 lakh for information leading to her capture.

Officials revealed that Sodi hailed from Aarlampalli village in Sukma district, an area that has long been a Maoist stronghold. Her familiarity with the terrain of the inter-state border regions made her a valuable asset for the Maoist organisation and a challenging adversary for security personnel.

Why She Chose to Surrender

According to Superintendent of Police Lakshya Sharma, Sodi’s decision to surrender was influenced by a combination of policy interventions, developmental activities, and sustained counter-insurgency operations. The Chhattisgarh government recently introduced a revamped Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy, aimed at providing attractive incentives and a dignified path back into mainstream society for Maoist cadres who choose to lay down arms.

The policy focuses on offering financial assistance, employment opportunities, educational support, and comprehensive reintegration programmes. Officials said Sodi was impressed by the clarity and sincerity of the new approach and decided to abandon the path of violence.

Beyond policy-level changes, ground-level developments have also played a transformative role. Over the past few years, security forces have intensified operations across Maoist-dominated regions, making it increasingly difficult for cadres to operate freely. Simultaneously, the government has undertaken extensive developmental projects in rural and tribal areas—particularly the expansion of road networks, installation of electricity infrastructure, improved access to drinking water, and better connectivity through mobile and transport facilities.

Police officials stated that villagers in remote areas, long influenced by Maoist narratives, are now witnessing tangible improvements in their living conditions. This shift has eroded support for Maoist ideologies and encouraged cadres like Sodi to reconsider their choices. Community policing initiatives, public outreach programmes, and increased dialogue between villagers and authorities have further built trust and created an environment conducive to surrenders.

Immediate and Long-Term Benefits

Following her surrender, Kamla Sodi received an immediate ex-gratia encouragement amount of ₹50,000. Additional benefits under the Rehabilitation Policy-2025 are currently being processed and will include monetary assistance, housing support, skill development opportunities, and other reintegration measures. Officials emphasised that the government’s objective is to ensure surrendered cadres can build secure and sustainable futures away from violent insurgent networks.

Police authorities also stated that Sodi’s surrender is likely to have an impact on other cadres still active in the Maaad and MMC zones. Her decision to return to the mainstream could encourage others to follow suit, particularly as pressure from security forces continues to intensify.

A Broader Decline in Naxal Influence

Sodi’s surrender is part of a wider pattern in recent months. In October, nearly 300 Naxalites surrendered in Chhattisgarh, marking one of the largest mass surrenders recorded in the region in recent years. Similarly, in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district, senior Maoist leader Mallojula Venugopal Rao, alias Bhupathi, along with 60 other cadres, laid down arms, demonstrating weakening Maoist cohesion across central India.

The central government has repeatedly indicated its aim to eliminate Left Wing Extremism from India entirely by March 2026. With coordinated efforts between central and state agencies, increased deployment of security forces, and parallel investments in infrastructure and livelihood opportunities, officials believe this goal is attainable.

Chhattisgarh, long considered the epicentre of the Maoist movement, has shown notable progress in recent years. Districts once considered inaccessible due to insurgent dominance are now witnessing road construction, farming expansion, and greater administrative presence. Authorities have expressed hope that the frequency of surrenders will rise further as development initiatives reach deeper into interior pockets.

A Turning Point for Local Communities

For local communities, developments such as Sodi’s surrender carry significant symbolic weight. Each high-level cadre who returns to civilian life signals a decline in the influence of extremist ideology and opens the door for more peaceful and development-oriented engagement between the state and tribal populations.

Officials believe Sodi’s decision will not only weaken Maoist operational capabilities but also help inspire younger individuals—many of whom are coerced or misled into joining Maoist groups—to reject the path of extremism.

Her surrender, therefore, represents more than just the loss of one cadre for the Maoist organisation; it marks a deeper shift in the social and developmental landscape of regions that have struggled under the shadow of armed insurgency for decades.