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Two reward-carrying women Naxals arrested; another surrenders
Those arrested were identified as Sonay Potai (32), associated with the military wing of Maoists, and Soni Potai, an area committee member.
Raipur: Two women Naxals carrying cash rewards totalling Rs 9 lakh on their heads were arrested while another in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur surrendered today citing disillusionment with the "hollow" ideology of the outlawed CPI (Maoist), police said.
"Those arrested were identified as Sonay Potai (32), associated with the military wing of Maoists, and Soni Potai, an area committee member," Narayanpur Additional Superintendent of Police Anil Soni told PTI over phone.
Police had received inputs about frequent movement of rebels in interior villages under Benoor police station area of the district reportedly to plant improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on important routes to target security personnel, he said.
Acting on the information, a joint operation was launched by District Reserve Group (DRG) and district police force in the region, located around 350 km from here.
While cordoning off jungles between Matla and Dandvan villages, the police personnel spotted the women cadres and arrested them, the ASP said.
A country-made revolver, one muzzle loading gun, Naxal literature and uniforms, medicines and commodities of daily use were seized from their possession, the officer added.
Cases related to murder, attempt to murder, loot and attacks on police parties were lodged against the duo in different police stations of the district, he said.
Sonay and Soni Potai were carrying cash rewards of Rs 8 lakh and Rs 1 lakh, respectively, on their heads, the police officer said.
During interrogation, the two revealed they were tasked with recruiting new cadres and devising strategy to carry out attacks on security forces, he added.
In a separate incident, a woman Maoist 'deputy commander', carrying a reward of Rs 3 lakh on her head, surrendered before the ASP Soni at Narayanpur district headquarters.
Phulo Salaam turned herself in citing disillusionment with the "hollow" ideology of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) and their wrong policies, the ASP said.
She will be provided assistance under the surrender and rehabilitation policy of the state government, he added.