As many as 30 Maoists, including a woman, surrendered before police in the insurgency-hit Bastar district in Chhattisgarh today, police said.
Bastar Superintendent of Police R N Das told PTI that these ultras decided to return to the mainstream as they were impressed by the rehabilitation policy of the state government and also because of the constant movement of the security forces in the internal regions of Bastar.
Nineteen cadres of Darbha division committee and 11 members of East Bastar division surrendered before senior police officials in Bastar district headquarters, he said.
Whereas, 19 of the surrendered Naxals belonged to Mundagarh region, seven were from Mardum region and four others from Lohandiguda.
"After the death of Naxal commander Chainu in Chandameta (in Bastar district) on December 25 in a police encounter, the Naxal movement in this region has diminished considerably and cadres are deciding to surrender. The movement of security forces in the interior parts of Lohandiguda has also compelled them to put down their weapons," the police officer said.
He said four of the surrendered Naxals-- Rajuram Markam, Sukka Sodhi, Mahanguram Nag and Boti Muchaki--carried Rs one lakh award each on their heads for various cases registered against them.
"Owing to the impressive Naxal rehabilitation policy of Chhattisgarh government and their growing frustration with Naxal ideology, more and more number of ultras are willing to join the mainstream, which is in turn benefiting the security forces," Das said.
District Collector Amit Kataria said Rs 10,000 have been given to each surrendered member as an encouragement prize and each of them will be given a suitable employment as well as accommodation soon.
