{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "Bijapur's former Naxal couple trade AK-47s for mechanic and tailoring training",
  "summary": "A former Naxalite couple from Bijapur, Chhattisgarh, Saroj and Rashmati, have surrendered and are now training in vehicle repair and tailoring to rebuild their lives.",
  "content": "A former Naxalite couple from Bijapur district in Chhattisgarh, who once spent years living deep inside the forests surrounded by weapons, has now turned toward an ordinary life built around farming and new livelihood skills. Saroj and his wife Rashmati gave up the path of violence, surrendered before the authorities, and are currently training for a fresh start at a rehabilitation centre in the Kondagaon region.\n\nThe reward money and their roles in the outfit\nAccording to police records, a combined reward of 3 lakh rupees was once recorded on Saroj and Rashmati together. Details that emerged later showed the government had separately declared an 8 lakh rupee reward on Saroj alone, while his wife Rashmati carried a 5 lakh rupee reward on her head. Saroj joined the Naxalite organisation in 2008, and over time rose through its ranks to become a company commander. During this period, he carried modern weapons such as an AK-47.\n\nThey met inside the outfit, and were later married\nRashmati, who belongs to Bijapur district, joined the Naxalite organisation in 2015. She had studied only up to class four at a school run by the outfit's own Janatana Sarkar before the organisation handed her a 303 rifle. It was during her work inside the outfit that she met company commander Saroj, and the two fell in love. Strict restrictions within the organisation meant they could not meet openly, so they expressed their feelings by writing love letters to each other. When the Naxalite leadership eventually learnt of the relationship, the organisation itself arranged their marriage. Right after the wedding, the outfit forced Saroj to undergo a vasectomy, so that family responsibilities would never pull him away from its work.\n\nGiving up violence for a rehabilitation scheme\nAfter spending several years in the forests engaged in Naxalite activity, Saroj and Rashmati decided to walk away from violence altogether. They surrendered and availed the benefits of the government's rehabilitation scheme meant for former Naxalites. Both are currently living at the rehabilitation centre and receiving the training they need to begin a new chapter of their lives. The couple say they now want to build a happy family for themselves and live with dignity.\n\nLearning new skills to earn a living\nSaroj is currently training to become a vehicle mechanic and is also learning to drive a tractor, so that he can take up farming or machinery related work in the future. Rashmati, meanwhile, is training in tailoring and embroidery as she works towards becoming self-reliant. Once their training is complete, the couple plans to return to their village and take up farming there. Securing their family's future through hard work has now become their biggest priority in life.\n\nWhat this means for you\nThe case highlights how Chhattisgarh's rehabilitation policy is working on the ground in Naxal affected areas.\n\n• Across India: The case shows how government rehabilitation schemes give former Naxalites a genuine path away from violence, offering training and livelihood skills instead.\n• In Chhattisgarh: For residents of Naxal affected areas like Bijapur and Kondagaon, it signals that surrendered Naxalites are being supported with training and rehabilitation centres to return to ordinary life.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. Who are Saroj and Rashmati?\nThey are a former Naxalite couple from Bijapur district in Chhattisgarh who have surrendered and given up the path of violence.\n\n2. How much reward was declared on Saroj and Rashmati?\nThe government had declared an 8 lakh rupee reward on Saroj and a 5 lakh rupee reward on Rashmati, though earlier records also showed a combined 3 lakh rupee reward on the pair.\n\n3. How did the two of them meet?\nThey met while working together inside the Naxalite organisation, where Rashmati came to know company commander Saroj, and the two later got married.\n\n4. What did the organisation do to Saroj after the wedding?\nRight after the marriage, the outfit forced Saroj to undergo a vasectomy so that family responsibilities would not take him away from its work.\n\n5. What are the two learning now after surrendering?\nSaroj is training to become a vehicle mechanic and to drive a tractor, while Rashmati is learning tailoring and embroidery.\n\n6. What is the couple's plan going forward?\nOnce their training is complete, they plan to return to their village, take up farming and build their family's future through hard work.\n\nInspiration & Lessons\nSaroj and Rashmati's journey shows that a fresh start is possible even after years spent amid violence.\n\n• The decision to change has to come from within: despite years spent in the forests, the couple themselves chose to give up violence and surrender.\n• New skills open new paths: Saroj is learning vehicle repair and tractor driving, while Rashmati is training in tailoring and embroidery to become self-reliant.\n• Making the most of government support: by availing the rehabilitation scheme, the couple secured training and support that now forms the foundation of their new life.\n• A clear goal keeps them moving forward: their plan to return to their village, take up farming and secure their family's future through hard work gives them direction.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/chhattisgarh/bijapur-ke-jngalon-se-nikalakara-aba-maikenika-aura-silai-ka-hunara-sikha-rahe-purva-naksali-dnpati-9126",
  "category": "Chhattisgarh",
  "publishedAt": "2026-07-20",
  "tags": [
    "Naxal surrender",
    "Bijapur",
    "Chhattisgarh",
    "rehabilitation scheme",
    "former Naxalite",
    "Kondagaon"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia"
}