India, Feb. 7 -- More than 50 Maoists carrying a collective bounty of Rs.1.61 crore surrendered before the police in Sukma and Bijapur districts of Chhattisgarh's Bastar division on Saturday, a senior police officer said.

The surrender coincided with the inauguration of the Bastar Pandum 2026 festival in Jagdalpur by President Droupadi Murmu and Union home minister Amit Shah's arrival in Raipur on a three-day visit.

Of the 51 surrendered cadres, 34 are women. While 30 Maoists, including 20 women, surrendered in Bijapur district, 21 others, including 14 women, joined the mainstream in neighbouring Sukma district under the 'Poona Margem' (from rehabilitation to social reintegration) initiative of the Bastar police, Inspector General of Po...