On January 9, 2026, 63 Maoists surrendered in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district, police said. Among them, 36 cadres carried a collective bounty of ₹1,19,50,000. The surrender happened under the 'Poona Margem' initiative, aimed at rehabilitation and social reintegration, police official Gaurav Rai said. Eighteen of the surrendering Maoists were women. The cadres were active in south Bastar, west Bastar, Maad divisions, and areas near Odisha. Seven cadres each carried ₹8 lakh reward, including Paklu alias Pradip Oyam, the Kalahandi area committee secretary; Mohan alias Azad Kadti, a divisional committee member; and his wife Sumitra alias Droupati Chapa. Others with bounties ranged from ₹5 lakh to ₹50,000. All 63 Maoists will get ₹50,000 immediate assistance and further rehabilitation as per state policy. On January 7, 26 Maoists surrendered in the neighboring Sukma district. Over 1,500 Maoists surrendered in Chhattisgarh in 2025. The Centre aims to eliminate Maoism by March 31, 2026.