‘Some worked as gunners’: From carrying rifles to walking the ramp, surrendered Naxal women from Sukma tell their story

Nine women from Sukma who recently surrendered participated in a fashion show held as part of a National Handloom Day event in Raipur.

Women Naxalites who once moved through the forests of Bastar with weapons such as INSAS rifles have now taken to the ramp, styled in heirloom sarees, and promoting Swadeshi products after surrendering.

Nine women from Sukma who recently surrendered participated in a fashion show held as part of a National Handloom Day event in Raipur. The programme was part of efforts to rehabilitate former Naxalites and provide them opportunities to engage in activities outside their previous lives.

The women wore heirloom sarees featuring traditional prints, paired with silver waist belts, jhumkas, and boots.

According to Sukma SP Mayank Gurjar, the women also helped spread awareness about Swadeshi products during the event.

Also Read: Former Naxal women walk ramp in traditional sarees for National Handloom Day, symbolise successful rehabilitation

Journey from Naxal ranks to ramp

One of the surrendered Naxalites, who said she had worked with the Pamed Area Committee, recalled her experience in Raipur, where the participants underwent six days of training.

"I used to work in the Pamed Area Committee. I surrendered in 2026. We went to Raipur recently. There, we were trained by people who had come from Bombay...prominent ministers also came. The training was of six days...it was the first time we did something like that...we enjoyed it," the former Naxalite said.

Another surrendered Naxalite, Poonam Devi, said she surrendered on July 12, 2025, after joining the Naxalite movement in November 2007.

"I surrendered on July 12, 2025. I liked the program...we were trained for it...I joined the Naxals in November 2007 and left in 2025," she said.

According to the SP, the nine women had held different roles within the Naxal organisation. Some had worked in the Pamed Area Committee, while others had served as gunners for major Naxalite commanders in Battalion Number 1.

"Among the nine surrendered women, some were working in the Pamed Area Committee. Some worked as gunners for major Naxalite commanders in Battalion Number 1. One of the surrendered women Naxalites was working as a teacher in a school," Gurjar said.

SP Mayank Gurjar said the participation was part of the benefits being provided to surrendered Naxalites under the rehabilitation policies of the Government of India and the Chhattisgarh Government.

Gurjar said the women had previously carried weapons, with one of them having carried an INSAS rifle, and had surrendered about six months earlier.

He said their participation in the fashion show reflected a change in their outlook and growing trust in the government's rehabilitation policy.

"They are now actively promoting Swadeshi products and refining their artistic skills," he said.

Anagha Deshpande is Deputy Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times. She is currently part of the news team. Before moving into this role, she worked with the Bengaluru desk, where she extensively covered civic issues, Karnataka politics, infrastructure, and urban governance. Over the past seven years, Anagha has worked across multiple facets of digital journalism, including reporting, editing, and video production. She briefly stepped away from journalism, only to realize that the newsroom is where she has the most fun. Her interests lie in tracking national and state politics, particularly South Indian politics, as well as social issues and public policy. She has previously worked with Deccan Herald, Mid-day, The Federal, and ThePrint, and has lived and worked in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Chennai. When she isn't chasing stories, Anagha enjoys long aimless walks, reading, hiking, discovering new teas, and, by her own admission, overthinking almost everything.Read More