A woman Maoist commander with a reward of Rs 5 lakh on her head surrendered before the police in Chhattisgarh’s Kondagaon district on Saturday (18 October). This marks another major success for the government in its long battle against Naxal violence. Geeta, also known as Kamli Salam, worked as the Tailor Team Commander in the East Bastar Division. She gave herself up before Superintendent of Police Akshay Kumar, saying she had lost faith in the Maoist movement and was inspired by recent large-scale surrenders.
Inspired by Mass Surrender in Jagdalpur
Her surrender took place just a day after 210 Maoist members, including one from the Central Committee, gave up arms in Jagdalpur on Friday. This was the biggest mass surrender in the state’s anti-Naxal campaign. During the event, 210 Maoists handed over 153 weapons, including AK-47 rifles and grenade launchers. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai was present at the ceremony. Officials said Geeta’s decision was influenced by strong police operations, growing internal conflicts among Maoists, and the emotional act of rebels accepting the Indian Constitution during the Jagdalpur event.
Government Support and Hope for Peace
Under the Chhattisgarh Naxalism Eradication Policy, Geeta received an immediate reward of Rs 50,000, and she will also get further help under the rehabilitation plan. With 238 Maoists surrendering in the last three days, including those in Jagdalpur, the Bastar region is seeing new hope for peace. The recent wave of surrenders follows Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s repeated statements that the government aims to completely end Naxalism, mainly in Bastar, by 31 March 2026. Just a day earlier, Shah had announced that Abujhmarh and North Bastar, two of the worst-affected areas, were now free from Naxal influence — showing a major turning point in Chhattisgarh’s fight against Left-Wing Extremism.
