63 Naxalites, including 36 with total bounty of Rs 1.19 cr, surrender in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada
Dantewada (PTI): As many as 63 Naxalites, 36 of them carrying a collective bounty of over Rs 1.19 crore, surrendered in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district on Friday, a senior police official said.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai hailed the development and said another historic milestone has been achieved towards peace, trust and development in Bastar region.
The cadres, including 18 women, turned themselves in before senior police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officials here under 'Poona Margem' (from rehabilitation to social reintegration) initiative, Dantewada Superintendent of Police Gaurav Rai said.
The Naxalites said they were also impressed by the state government's surrender and rehabilitation policy, he added.
They were active in south Bastar division, west Bastar division, Maad division in the state, and in areas bordering Odisha, he said.
Seven of the cadres carried a reward of Rs 8 lakh each, he said.
These Naxalites have been identified as Paklu, alias Pradip Oyam (45), who was the secretary of Kalahandi area committee of Maoists; Mohan, alias Azad Kadti (32), a divisional committee member; his wife Sumitra, alias Droupati Chapa (30), Bhairamarh area committee secretary; Hungi, alias Radhika Lekam (28), platoon party committee member; Sukhram Tati (20), member of Company no. 1; Pandu Madkam (19), member of Company no. 7, and Somdu Kadti (21), who was also a member of the same wing.
Seven other cadres carried a bounty of Rs 5 lakh each, eight cadres Rs 2 lakh each, 11 cadres Rs 1 lakh each and three cadres Rs 50,000 each, the official said.
"These these 36 cadres carried a collective reward of Rs 1,19,50,000. All the 63 surrendered Naxalites will be provided an immediate assistance of Rs 50,000 each and will be further rehabilitated as per the government's policy," the SP added.
In a statement, the chief minister said under the 'Poona Margem' (from rehabilitation to social reintegration) initiative, a total of 63 Maoists renounced the path of violence in Dantewada and pledged to join the democratic and developmental mainstream.
This is not merely an act of surrender, but a decisive transformation for the future of Bastar, he said.
The achievement is an outcome of the strong will of the Central government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the clear, multi-dimensional security and development strategy of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Sai said.
This development stands as proof that "not the gun, but dialogue and development are the permanent solutions", he added.
"Due to the state government's sensitive rehabilitation policy, precise security strategy and governance-driven administrative approach, Naxalism has now reached its final phase. Maoist networks are being effectively dismantled, and basic facilities such as roads, electricity, education, healthcare, employment and digital connectivity are rapidly reaching the remote interiors of Bastar region," Sai said.
Those who have surrendered will be provided with dignified rehabilitation, skill training, livelihood support and social reintegration by the government, so that they can become self-reliant citizens and establish themselves permanently in the mainstream of society, the CM added.
On January 7, as many as 26 Naxalites had surrendered in the neighbouring Sukma district.
More than 1,500 Naxalites surrendered in the state in 2025, as per police.
The Centre has resolved to eliminate Naxalism from the country by March 31, 2026.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
