Top Woman Maoist With Rs 14-Lakh Bounty Surrenders In Madhya Pradesh

A woman Maoist carrying a reward of Rs 14 lakh on her head surrendered in Balaghat in Madhya Pradesh, a police official said on Sunday.

Sunita laid down arms on November 1 before Rupendra Dhurve, assistant commander of Hawk Force, a specialised anti-Maoist unit of the MP police, he added.

"Sunita was an armed guard of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist) Central Committee member and NMC Zone in charge Ramder. She was carrying a bounty of Rs 14 lakh jointly announced by Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh police. She is a resident of Gomveta in Bhairamgarh in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur tehsil," the official said.

Sunita, who carried an INSAS rifle, was active in Madhya Pradesh, Gondia in Maharashtra and Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh, he added.

She was associated with the outlawed movement since 2022 and took training in the Madh area of neighbouring Chhattisgarh, the official said.

In a statement, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav termed her surrender as the positive result of a stern warning given by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to ultras to either surrender or face action.

"This is the first surrender of any Maoist under the Madhya Pradesh Surrender, Rehabilitation cum Relief Policy 2023. This is also the first time since 1992 that Maoist belonging to another state has surrendered before the Madhya Pradesh government," Yadav pointed out.

The CM said Maoists carrying a cumulative reward of Rs 1.46 crore on their heads have been eliminated in MP in the last 10 months.  

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