India, Jan. 15 -- At least 52 Maoists, 49 of them carrying a collective bounty of over Rs.1.41 crore, surrendered before security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Thursday, police said.

Police officers said that the surrendered cadres were active in the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC), Andhra-Odisha Border division and the Bhamragarh area committee of Maharashtra.

They laid down arms before senior police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officers under the 'Poona Margem' initiative, which focuses on rehabilitation and social reintegration, Bijapur Superintendent of Police Jitendra Kumar Yadav said.

According to the officers, the cadres were influenced by the state government's surrender and rehabilitation...