RAIPUR: As many as 43
Maoists
, who were active in insurgency hotspots of
Sukma like
Chintagufa
and Tongpal, surrendered before police on Wednesday. Nine of them are women.
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They were all members of Maoist militia or its frontal organisations. One of them carried a reward of Rs 1 lakh for his arrest.
According to police, they wanted to return to the mainstream because they were disillusioned by the violent ideology of Maoists, and inspired by Sukma police's campaign, 'Puna Narkom', which means 'new dawn' in a Gondi dialect. They surrendered before Sukma SP Sunil Sharma.
Around 176 Maoists from 30 villages have surrendered under the
Puna Narkom scheme
since its launch in August.
The Maoist carrying a reward was identified as Podium Lakshman, and the others are members of militia wing, Chetna Natya Manch, Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisan Majdoor Sangh. They are natives of 10 villages in Sukma, including Chintagufa, Kukanar, Gadiras, Tongpal.
Bastar Range IG P Sundarraj said these 43 cadres used to assist senior leaders and arranged logistics in the southern parts of Bastar. CRPF's 226 Battalion played a crucial role in pursuing the cadres to surrender, he added.
Over 400 Maoists have surrendered in neighbouring Dantewada under a similar scheme launched by the district police. A fourth of them carried bounties.
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