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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Bypolls: K'taka Cong Minority Abdul Jabbar chief resigns amid allegations of 'internal conspiracy'
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Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Congress Minority Department President K Abdul Jabbar announced his resignation from the post on Saturday, a day after a group of Muslim leaders accused members of their own party of "conspiring" to defeat the official candidate in Davanagere South.
Jabbar, an MLC, was an aspirant for the Congress ticket from the Davanagere South Assembly segment.
"It has been an honor for me to serve as Chairman of the KPCC Minority department and have worked to the best of my ability during assembly elections 2023 and followed by Parliament polls and many such occasions whenever the party needed the minority department and showed results. I have toured the entire state of Karnataka and worked to align the minorities with Congress values and principles. Most of it is available in the public domain," Jabbar has said in a letter to the party.
"Minority voters and minority office bearers are the backbone of our great Congress party and certainly deserve better," he said.
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President, confirmed Jabbar's resignation.
"I won't speak about this now, I have got some reports. The Minority President has submitted his resignation. I will verify things, I will seek a report from local leaders after that I will speak," he told reporters in response to a question on internal conspiracy.
A rift within the Karnataka Congress surfaced on Friday, a day after the bypolls to two Assembly constituencies in the state, as a group of Muslim leaders alleged a "conspiracy" by some of their own senior party leaders to defeat the official candidate in Davanagere South.
However, they asserted that despite efforts by some within to project that Congress "betrayed" Muslims, the party candidate Samarth Mallikarjun will win in Davanagere South, the constituency where the community has a significant presence.
They said the party finally named Samarth Mallikarjun as the candidate after considering all factors and taking all Muslim leaders into confidence. Despite this, a massive campaign, including from some within the party, projected the Congress as having "betrayed" the minorities by denying them tickets.
Chief Whip in the Legislative Council Saleem Ahmed, MLAs Rizwan Arshad, Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan, MLC Bilkis Bano, and other Congress leaders addressed a joint press conference on Friday, claiming an "internal conspiracy".
According to party sources, these Muslim leaders have also complained to AICC and state party leadership, alleging "internal sabotage" in Davanagere South.
Though the leaders did not name anyone, several party sources said their attack was directed at State Housing Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan and Jabbar among others.
Khan, who had openly demanded the Davanagere South ticket for a Muslim candidate, initially stayed away from campaigning in the constituency, citing his Kerala poll responsibilities.
However, he addressed a press meet with Samarth's father and Minister SS Mallikarjun at the request of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Jabbar too had not actively participated in the campaigning, despite hailing from Davanagere.
Bypolls for Davanagere South were held along with Bagalkot on Thursday. The election was necessitated following the death of sitting MLAs Shamanur Shivashankarappa and H Y Meti respectively. Samarth is the grandson of Shivashankarappa.
Muslim disgruntlement appears to be a concern for the Congress in Davanagere South. With 14 of the 25 candidates in the fray belonging to the community, there are apprehensions within the party about a split in votes, which could benefit the BJP.
Given its significant presence in the constituency, the Muslim community strongly demanded the Congress ticket for Davanagere South. Some party factions had opposed giving the ticket to the Shamanur family.
Although the Congress was successful in persuading rebel candidate Sadiq Pailwan to withdraw from the contest, he remained in the fray as the move came after the deadline for withdrawal of nominations.
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