Two Maoists of the Galikonda Area Committee and two militia members of the dalam surrendered before SP (Visakha Rural) Rahul Dev Sharma here on Friday.
The Maoists were identified as Vanthala Lakshmana Rao, alias Das (28), and Pangi Lakshman, alias Venkat (25). The militia members were Pangi Sombra (18) and a juvenile in conflict with law. Mr. Rahul Dev Sharma said that Lakshmana Rao had joined the outfit in 2007 and was involved planting landmines, blasting APFDC’s coffee pulping units, threatening and attacking the surrendered Maoists.
Lakshman was involved in over seven offences, including the killing of a trader, Gundu Rao, torching earthmoving machines, and kidnapping a few local TDP leaders. Lakshmana Rao is a native of Annavaram of Koyyuru mandal.
Lakshman and the militia members are residents of Nakkabanda of G.K. Veedhi mandal in Visakhapatnam Agency.
This was the fourth major surrender from the Galikonda area in the last one year.
‘High-handedness’
“The Galikonda area has almost been cleaned up of the Maoist presence,” the SP said. The accused were reportedly fed up with the high-handedness of the Maoist party and decided to join the mainstream and lead a normal life, the police said.
“The number of surrenders has been increasing in the Visakhapatnam region, and it will help in the development of the remote areas in the Agency,” Mr. Rahul added.
