From Guns to Cradle: Naxal Veteran Sammi Embraces Motherhood After Surrender

Nagpur: For 25-year-old Comrade Sammi, life has come full circle. Once a guerrilla fighter in the forests of Abujhmad, Sammi now cradles her newborn son, marking a profound personal transformation. After surrendering to government authorities in January under Maharashtra’s rehabilitation program, she and her husband, former Naxal commander Arjun, are embracing family life for the first time.

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Sammi, a former member of the Naxal guerrilla medical and women’s teams, gave birth to her son at Gadchiroli District Women’s Hospital. Overcome with emotion, she shed tears as she held her child for the first time. Married to Arjun, who served as a personal bodyguard to senior Naxal leader Bhupati, Sammi had never imagined raising a family inside the Naxal organization. While guerrilla members were allowed to marry, having children was strictly forbidden.

With the launch of government rehabilitation schemes, the couple surrendered on 1 January 2025, seeking a chance to live in the mainstream. Under Project Sanjeevani, the Gadchiroli police facilitated their reintegration, assisting them in obtaining Aadhaar, PAN card, bank account, e-Shram card, and driving license, along with a rehabilitation grant of ₹16.3 lakh. Sammi revealed that within the Naxal ranks, thinking about marriage or children was unimaginable—they were trained only to survive and fight. Today, she holds in her arms the life she once could only dream of.

Interestingly, Naxal policies typically enforced sterilization for male cadres, but Arjun was exempted, allowing him to become a father. Just ten months ago, Sammi was running through forests carrying guns and medical supplies for injured rebels. Today, she walks with her newborn, a living symbol of hope and peace.

Gadchiroli SP Neelotpal personally visited the couple in the hospital, blessing their child and declaring, “This baby is proof that peace triumphs.”

Since the launch of the rehabilitation program, 783 Naxals have surrendered in Gadchiroli, including 101 armed cadres. Many have now taken up businesses, driving autos, or manual work. For Sammi and Arjun, their most significant victory is their son, who will hopefully grow up in a world far removed from the sound of guns. Arjun expressed his desire to provide his child with a good education and a safe, peaceful future.