Dantewada: A total of 35 Naxalites surrendered in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district on Sunday, three of whom had a total reward of Rs 3 lakh, a senior police officer said.
He said that those who surrendered before the police include a 16-year-old girl and an 18-year-old boy.
The officer said these cadres were tasked with digging roads, cutting trees to block roads and putting up posters and banners during the bandh called by Naxalites.
Dantewada Superintendent of Police Gaurav Rai said that among the surrendered Naxalites, Baman Karatam (39) was the Jiyakodata Panchay Militia Platoon Commander of the banned Maoist organization, while Bhim Kunjam (28) was the Aranpur Panchayat CNM President.
Chetna Natya Mandali (CNM) is a cultural wing of the Maoists.
The woman Naxalite Kumme Lekam (35), who carried a reward of Rs 1 lakh, was the president of Hurrepal Panchayat Krantikari Mahila Adivasi Sangathan (KAMS), he said.
“They were part of the Bhairamgarh, Malanger and Katekalyan area committees of the Maoists in South Bastar. They said they were impressed by the police's rehabilitation campaign 'Lone Varatu' (return to their homes) and disappointed with the hollow Maoist ideology," Rai said.
The officer said that these Naxalites will be provided facilities as per the surrender and rehabilitation policy of the government.
Officials said that with this, so far 796 Naxalites, including 180 rewardees, have joined the mainstream in the district under the police's Lon Varatu campaign launched in June 2020.
He said that those who surrendered before the police include a 16-year-old girl and an 18-year-old boy.
The officer said these cadres were tasked with digging roads, cutting trees to block roads and putting up posters and banners during the bandh called by Naxalites.
Dantewada Superintendent of Police Gaurav Rai said that among the surrendered Naxalites, Baman Karatam (39) was the Jiyakodata Panchay Militia Platoon Commander of the banned Maoist organization, while Bhim Kunjam (28) was the Aranpur Panchayat CNM President.
Chetna Natya Mandali (CNM) is a cultural wing of the Maoists.
The woman Naxalite Kumme Lekam (35), who carried a reward of Rs 1 lakh, was the president of Hurrepal Panchayat Krantikari Mahila Adivasi Sangathan (KAMS), he said.
“They were part of the Bhairamgarh, Malanger and Katekalyan area committees of the Maoists in South Bastar. They said they were impressed by the police's rehabilitation campaign 'Lone Varatu' (return to their homes) and disappointed with the hollow Maoist ideology," Rai said.
The officer said that these Naxalites will be provided facilities as per the surrender and rehabilitation policy of the government.
Officials said that with this, so far 796 Naxalites, including 180 rewardees, have joined the mainstream in the district under the police's Lon Varatu campaign launched in June 2020.
