Raipur: In a shocking revelation, it has emerged on Thursday that security forces in Chhattisgarh's restive Sukma district may have staged a “fake surrender of Maoists” just for publicity.


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According to a report, some 70 Maoists who had surrendered to the authorities about a week ago at a publicised function, many of them could actually be ordinary villagers.


Sukma police have now been accused of roping in innocent villagers to surrender before the cameras for cheap publicity.


Doubts about the real identity of those surrendered emerged after police records revealed that only 10 of the 70 men and women have criminal cases pending against them and the rest 60 had no criminal record


Citing the opposition Congress, the HT report further said that they were ordinary villagers and had come to “surrender” due to the cash incentive of Rs10,000 given to each Maoist.


“Why are poor tribals being forced to surrender,” the report quoted state Congress president Bhupesh Bhagel as asking.


Meanwhile, the police have insisted that all those who have surrendered are either Maoists or have helped the extremists.


Some of those who have surrendered have also disputed the police claim.