The Director General of Police B. Prasada Rao has said that some more Maoists had evinced interest to join the mainstream of life in the footsteps of Dandakaranya special zonal committee secretary G. Venkatakrishna Prasad alias Gudsa Usendi who surrendered to the police of Andhra Pradesh two days ago.
Presenting Prasad and his wife Santoshi, who also gave herself up to the police two days ago, Mr. Rao told a press conference that efforts were on to facilitate the surrender of Maoists who wanted to give themselves up.
He appealed to them to surrender and assured that the government will take all steps for their rehabilitation. Mr. Rao said no cases of violence were reported against Prasad in Andhra Pradesh since 1987 when he was among seven Naxalites to be released by the State government from judicial custody in exchange for an equal number of IAS officers led by late S.R. Sankaran who were kidnapped by the extremist outfit from Gurthedu forest in East Godavari district in 1987.
Prasad and six others were arrested in an arms case and detained in Visakhapatnam jail when the kidnap of the officials took place.
The government had initiated negotiations with mediators and secured the release of the officials in exchange for Prasad, Wadkapuri Chandramouli, Pilli Venkateswara Rao and four others. Mr. Rao said Prasad was the mouthpiece of the Maoists since 2006. The reward of Rs. 20 lakh on his head instituted by the State government would be given to him for his rehabilitation. He surrendered due to ideological differences with the party and health reasons. He confined his activities to Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. He was, however, frustrated with mindless killings by the extremist outfit.
The cases against Prasad would take their own course and he might even have to face trial in court if required. With the latest surrender, Mr. Rao said there were still 275 underground cadre who included 77 from Andhra Pradesh and 198 from other States.
There were 17 central committee members, including 11 from the State, and 6 Politburo members.
