Inspired by the policy of the Indian Government, a top Maoist leader has surrendered, while police have arrested another Maoist in Jharkhand.
Maoist leader Kundan Pahan Ramesh surrendered before the police in Ranchi on Saturday.
"The main reason for the surrender was the government's policy which he (Kundan Pahan Ramesh) said he liked. He got influenced by the police proceedings and came under pressure after which he thought that surrendering was his best option. So, we welcome his decision and hope that this message gets spread amongst those youths who join these Maoists," Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Bhimsen, told media in Ranchi.
During investigations, Ramesh also revealed how a police officer of the CID (Crime Investigation Department) branch, Francis Induwar, was kidnapped and murdered in 2009.
Ramesh confessed before the Ranchi Police how he was rightly influenced by the government's policy, which helped him surrender. He decided to quit the organisation and return to the social mainstream as they were disillusioned by the torture and harassment.
Meanwhile, one Maoist was arrested in an operation in the state's Khunti District.
"One Maoist has been arrested in an operation, whose name is Fulendra Mehto, a resident of Ganjira. We have captured a single shot rifle from him and he has also accepted his involvement in two murder cases," said Superintendent of Police Anish Gupta.
Fulendra Mehto is said to be a member of the banned militant outfit of People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI).
Maoists are trying to sink deep roots and form links after decades of neglect.
The rebels are rapidly expanding their insurgency and could move from remote rural areas to cities.
Equipped with automatic weapons, shoulder rocket launchers, mines and explosives, the Maoists want to cripple economic activity.
The Maoist insurgents are estimated to number 7500 hardcore fighters in nearly a third of India's 630 districts. While they have made few inroads into cities, they have spread into rural pockets in 20 of 28 states.
Maoists say they are fighting for the rights of poor farmers and landless labourers. Thousands have been killed in the insurgency since the late 1960s.
