Twenty one members of banned CPI (Maoist)’s militia, including a woman, surrendered before the Superintendent of Police Vikram Jeet Duggal here on Monday. The District Police also arrested five militia commanders from the Agency area. The surrendered members and arrested commanders were presented at a media conference.
Giving details to the media, Mr. Duggal said that more and more Maoists were surrendering to the police and felt that activities like community policing and motivation of youth through appeals for surrender were producing the desired effect as 17 militia members and sympathisers had surrendered earlier. “More main militia members are expected to surrender in the near future”, he said.
Those surrendered on Monday were involved in axing of trees and placing them across the roads, summoning villagers for Maoists meetings, passing information on the movement of police and erecting Maoist party’s banners.
Rs.5,000 each would be given as immediate relief to the surrendered Maoists. Proposals would be sent to the District Collector for their rehabilitation.
The arrested Maoist militia commanders are: Korra Bhaskara Rao (35), Tambelu Ganga Raju (24) and Gemmeli Raj (34) (all from Mukudupalli village of Koyyuru mandal), Seendri Krupa Rao (30) of Pothugummala village of G.K. Veedhi mandal and Seendri Babu Rao of Kindangi village of Koyyuru mandal.
Mr. Duggal said that the police was ready to take up development works in the interior tribal areas and the surrendered Maoists could be of great help to the police in undertaking development activities.
He assured that the police would take a lenient view on the surrendered Maoists and appealed to the Maoists who participated in the recent offence at Chepa Gedda of G.K. Veedhi mandal to surrender. The names of those who participated in that offence were already gathered by the police.
Replying to queries, he admitted that migration from Chattisgarh was on the rise. We are verifying as to why the tribal people were migrating. At present, the situation “is not alarming”. He expressed the view that the protests by tribal people seeking closure of ‘police outposts’ was ‘not correct’. It was the duty of the police to protect the people.
Additional SP (Narsipatnam) Vishal Gunny, Additional SP D. N. Kishore, Officer On Special Duty A.R. Damodar and CRPF Deputy Commandant Y.K. Yadav were present at the media conference.
