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Raipur, Nov 6 (IANS) In another success of Chhattisgarh’s ‘anti-Naxal’ operation, notorious female Maoist Kamla Sodi, carrying a bounty of Rs 17 lakh, surrendered before the police on Thursday, a powerful moment in the state’s ongoing effort to dismantle the insurgent network through talks and rehabilitation.
Sodi, also known by her aliases Ungi and Taruna, laid down arms at the office of the Superintendent of Police in Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai district in the presence of Rajnandgaon range Inspector General of Police Abhishek Shandilya, SP Lakshya Sharma and other senior officials.
Their surrender is being seen as evidence of the growing impact of Chhattisgarh’s Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy-2025, which aims to reintegrate former rebels into society through confidence-building and development.
Sodi, a native of Konta area of Sukma district, was associated with the banned CPI (Maoist) since 2011.
She served as a key operative under MMC (Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh) zone in-charge, Ramdar, who was actively involved in planning and executing several violent incidents in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh.
Their decision to leave the path of violence comes amid increased security operations in the area and sustained police pressure.
Sodi cited the state government’s progressive rehabilitation policy as his inspiration for returning to mainstream life.
As part of the surrender protocol, he was immediately given Rs 50,000 and assured of comprehensive support for reintegration.
Officials believe their move will encourage other Maoists to do the same, especially as the insurgency continues to weaken in the face of development initiatives and community outreach.
IG Shandilya underlined the symbolic importance of Sodi’s surrender, saying it reflected a broader change among Maoist cadres who were becoming disillusioned with the armed struggle. He said, this is not just a success of policing, it is a social message that change is possible through dialogue, not guns.
The administration remains optimistic that such signals will induce more defections from Maoist ranks, thereby strengthening the belief that peace and progress are the true agents of change in conflict-torn areas.
–IANS
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