Surrendered Naxals Clear Class 10 Exam

New Delhi: Eight surrendered Naxals have cleared the Class 10 examination through the Chhattisgarh Open School, returning to education under the state government’s rehabilitation policy.

They had left school during childhood to join the Naxal movement and resumed their studies after surrendering.

Six of those who passed are from Bastar and one each from Kanker and Bijapur. The three districts were once Naxal strongholds.

The rehabilitation policy aims to help surrendered Naxals rejoin mainstream society through education, skill training, employment and self-employment.

“When they got a chance to study again after surrendering, they did not care at all about their age or the years lost in between.

Some of these rehabilitated Naxals, with full passion, picked up books through the Chhattisgarh Open School, prepared hard and proved with their success that there is no age to return to the right path and make a new beginning,” an official statement said.

Among those who passed is Bhaskar, a Telangana resident who joined the Naxal movement in the 1990s and rose to become a member of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee.

While learning to handle various weapons, he also learned Hindi and developed an interest in books during his years in the jungle. He continued reading after surrendering and passed the Class 10 examination with a first division. He now wants to promote education.

Geeta Nureti, known as Champa in the outfit, had been forced to leave school after Class 6. She spent about 20 years in the jungle, where she learned to read and treat the injured, including applying bandages and administering injections.

After surrendering, she resumed her studies at the age of 35 and secured a first division with 347 marks out of 500. She wants to enrol in a nursing course to serve people.

Sannu, a resident of Kanker, joined a Naxal outfit at a young age, trained in sophisticated weapons and rose to become a commander.

After surrendering, he took the Class 10 examination and passed. He wants to continue his education and contribute to society.

Santosh Aanchal’s childhood and education were disrupted by poverty. He joined a Naxal outfit in 2008 and surrendered in 2025, about 17 years later.

He passed the Class 10 examination with 308 marks and plans to study further.

Ramdhar Kashyap, alias Biru, of Kondagaon also cleared the examination and hopes to build a better future.

Inspector General Badrinarayan Meena said the former cadres were being helped to pursue education and training according to their interests and abilities under the rehabilitation policy.