Overview On December 12, 2025 , ten Maoists, including six women, surrendered in the Sukma district of Chhattisgarh . These individuals collectively carried a reward of ₹33 lakh . The surrender highlights ongoing efforts to address left-wing extremism in the region. Key Developments Total Surrenders: With this event, a total of 263 Maoists have surrendered in the district in 2025 . Initiative: The surrender occurred under the police's ‘Poona Margem’ initiative, which translates to "From Rehabilitation to Social Reintegration." Weapons Surrendered: The surrendered cadres handed over an AK-47 rifle , two Self-Loading Rifles (SLRs) , a Stengun , and a Barrel Grenade Launcher (BGL) . These weapons carried a total reward of ₹8 lakh . Key Individuals Midiam Bhima: A 30 -year-old company platoon commander of the Maoists, carried a reward of ₹8 lakh . Ganga Kunjam: A 22 -year-old, carried a bounty of ₹5 lakh . Lekam Rama, Tati Soni (32), and Shanti Sodhi (21): Each carried a bounty of ₹5 lakh . Madvi Navin (20), Madvi Rukni (24), Oyam Mangli (22), Podiyam Mangi (20), and Madvi Gangi (19): Each carried a reward of ₹1 lakh . Statements from Officials Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan: Noted that the increasing number of surrenders indicates a growing trust in peace and development efforts in the region. Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj Pattilingam: Reported that at least 1,514 Maoists have surrendered in the Bastar region in the last 11 months . He also stated that remaining Maoists, including Politburo member Devji , Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee member Pappa Rao , and Deva (Barse Deva) , have no option but to renounce violence. Broader Context According to police data, around 2,400 Maoists have surrendered in Chhattisgarh in the last two years . This trend underscores the ongoing efforts to address left-wing extremism through a combination of security measures and rehabilitation programs. UPSC Relevance This news is relevant to GS3 (Internal Security) , specifically concerning left-wing extremism and government policies aimed at addressing it. The ‘Poona Margem’ initiative is a case study for Mains answers on rehabilitation and reintegration strategies. The high number of surrenders also reflects on the changing dynamics of insurgency in the Bastar region. Important Facts for Prelims Date of Surrender: December 12, 2025 Location: Sukma district, Chhattisgarh Total Reward Amount: ₹33 lakh Initiative Name: ‘Poona Margem’ Total Surrenders in Sukma (2025): 263 Total Surrenders in Bastar (Last 11 Months): 1,514 Total Surrenders in Chhattisgarh (Last 2 Years): Approximately 2,400