Nine Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres, including four with cumulative cash rewards of INR 1.6 million, surrendered in separate incidents in Bijapur and Dantewada Districts of Chhattisgarh on July 4, reports The New Indian Express. In one incident, two Maoists, identified as Makdam Deva (36) and a woman Maoist - Sumitra Chepa surrendered in Bijapur District. The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sundarraj P. said, “Makdam Deva was an active member of Jagargunda-Basaguda area committee. He joined the CPI-Maoist in 1995, and had a reward of INR 500,000 on his head. He was involved in several attacks on Police teams, including the Basaguda attack wherein two security personnel were killed, as well as murder of civilians in the area. While, the woman rebel - Sumitra Chepa, was active as section commander of battalion no. 1 of PLGA (People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army), armed wing of CPI-Maoist, and was involved in attacks in Sukma, including the 2014 Kasalpad attack in which 15 Policemen were killed, and Pidmel attack in 2015 wherein three Policemen had lost their lives. She carried a reward of INR 800,000 on her head.”
In another incident, seven Maoists surrendered in Dantewada District, after being impressed by ‘Lon Varratu’ (return to your village) campaign launched by local Police, the Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhishek Pallava said. Among them, a woman cadre identified as Hadme Mandavi (20), a member of military platoon no. 26, and Lakhma Mandavi (26), a ‘Jan militia commander’, were carrying cash rewards of INR 200,000 and INR 100,000 on their heads respectively, the SP said adding that the rest are lower-rung members of the outfit. Their identities have not been reported.