Six Maoists surrender in Chhattisgarh

Raipur: Six Naxals, including a section commander carrying a reward of Rs 3 lakh on his head, on Thursday surrendered in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, citing disappointment with the "hollow" Maoist ideology, police said.

The cadres, including a woman, turned themselves in before the senior police and administrative officials in Bijapur town, Superintendent of Police K L Dhruv told PTI.

Hapka Payku (25), one of the Naxals who surrendered, was active as the section commander of military platoon No.13 of the Maoists. He carrying a reward of Rs 3 lakh on his head, the SP said.

Besides, Madvi Sonu (27), an local organisation squad member, had a reward of Rs 1 lakh on his head, he said.

The other Naxals who surrendered were identified as Kadti Bheema (25), Raju Ram Modiyam (22), Podiyam Moti (27) and the woman rebel, Vekko Aytu (27).

While Bheema was a janmilitia commander, Aytu was operating as the head of the Janatana Sarkar group of Maoists in Bhairamgarh area, the SP said.

The police officer claimed that in their statements, all the ultras expressed disappointment over the hollow ideology of the outlawed Naxal movement and violence.

Moreover, they were impressed with the provisions of the state government's surrender and rehabilitation policy which compelled them to join the mainstream, he said.

The rebels who surrendered were given Rs 10,000 cash each as 'encouragement money', he added.