**Title:** Sixteen Naxalites Surrender in Chhattisgarh, Village Declared Naxal-Free
**Meta Description:** Sixteen Naxalites, including six with rewards totaling Rs 25 lakh, surrendered in Sukma, Chhattisgarh, leading to the village’s Naxal-free status.
**URL Slug:** chhattisgarh-naxalites-surrender-sukma
**Headline:** Sixteen Naxalites Surrender in Sukma, Chhattisgarh, Making Village Naxal-Free
In a significant development, sixteen Naxalites, including six individuals with a combined cash reward of Rs 25 lakh, surrendered to authorities in Sukma district, Chhattisgarh, on Monday. This group included nine members from the Kerlapenda village panchayat, which has now been declared Naxal-free, paving the way for the village to receive Rs 1 crore in development projects under a new state government initiative.
The surrender took place in front of senior police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officials. The Sukma Superintendent of Police, Kiran Chavan, reported that the individuals expressed their disillusionment with the “hollow” and “inhuman” ideology of the Maoists, as well as the violence inflicted upon local tribal communities. The Chhattisgarh government’s ‘Niyad Nellanar’ scheme, designed to promote development in remote villages, also played a role in their decision to surrender.
Among those who surrendered were Rita alias Dodi Sukki, a 36-year-old woman active in the Maoist central regional committee, and 18-year-old Rahul Punem, a member of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) battalion. Both carried rewards of Rs 8 lakh each. Additionally, Lekam Lakhma, aged 28, had a bounty of Rs 3 lakh, while three other cadres had rewards of Rs 2 lakh each.
With the surrender of these individuals, Kerlapenda village has officially become Naxal-free. According to the Elvad Panchayat Yojna, the village will receive a financial incentive of Rs 1 crore for development projects, as part of the Chhattisgarh Naxal Surrender/Victim Relief and Rehabilitation Policy-2025. This policy aims to encourage villages to facilitate the surrender of Naxalites and declare themselves free from Maoist influence.
This marks the second village panchayat in Sukma to achieve Naxal-free status under the new scheme, following the surrender of eleven lower-rung Naxalites in Badesatti in April. Each of the surrendered Naxalites will receive an assistance package of Rs 50,000 and will be rehabilitated according to government policies. In the previous year, a total of 792 Naxalites surrendered in the Bastar region, which includes Sukma.
**FAQ Section:**
**Q: What benefits does Kerlapenda village receive after becoming Naxal-free?**
A: Kerlapenda village will receive Rs 1 crore for development projects as part of the Chhattisgarh government’s initiative to promote growth in areas that have successfully facilitated the surrender of Naxalites.