Between July and September, 148 Naxals have surrendered.
Naxal-hit Bastar has suddenly witnessed a spurt in surrenders. With 148 Naxals surrendering between July and September, there has been a remarkable rise in the numbers of rebels laying down arms. But while the state authorities attribute this to a nearly six-fold hike in compensation and a sustained campaign, there are those who cite other causes. And some, plainly, smell a rat.
"There was a great disparity between the reward amount in Chhattishgarh and Andhra," explained SRP Kalluri, Inspector General, Bastar Range. So now, from Rs 12 lakh, the figure has been hiked to Rs 60 lakh for a central committee secretary. For a politburo member, the hike has been steeper - from Rs 7 lakh to Rs 50 lakh.
Mr Kalluri is proud of the military action too. "We have kept up our operations in the jungles even during incessant rains. One-third of our forces are always deployed in the jungles," he said.
There's also the soft campaign to raise awareness: "Parallel to Naxals' chetna natak manch, we have formed a drama group which includes surrendered Naxals and auxiliary constables," Mr Kalluri said.
But Naxals who have surrendered feel the monetary incentive, though lucrative, has little to do with their decision. In fact, it is often based on an increasing disillusionment with the cause and an internal rift.
25-year-old Sonsai Korram, a former Naxal section commander, who now works with the state police, said the government has not been able to implement the surrender policy properly.
"So far, I have not received my reward amount and there are many like me," Korram said. "Money is not a motivation. There is a rift between the Andhra and Chhattisgarh cadre, which may be the real reason."
Some former Naxals even claim the spurt in surrenders is an eyewash.
Ramesh Badarna, a Naxal commander who has ended up as a gardener, said, "These are not the real, hardcore Naxals. During the time of Salwa Judum, there was hardly any surrender. Now that things are peaceful, how come so many?"
Activist Sudip Srivastava, too, suggested there may be more here than meets the eye.
For starters, "Of the surrendered Naxals, only three to four are senior people. The rest are merely villagers who helped Naxals," Mr Srivastava said.
The rise in the surrender rate could even be part of "guerilla warfare to make the authorities complacent". "They could also be trying to avert the deployment of more Central security forces," he said.