Twenty-four Maoists surrendered before police in Bastar region of Chhattisgarh on Monday.
They surrendered at the Kondagaon district police headquarters in presence of Bastar range Inspector-General of Police S.R.P. Kalluri.
“All 24 surrendered Maoists are residents of different districts of Chhattisgarh and were attracted by the State’s surrender policy. The discrimination and exploitation of local Chhattisgarh cadre by senior Telugu leaders in the Maoist party propelled them to leave the path of violence and join the mainstream,” said a statement issued by Bastar police.
The surrendered Maoists include Kunti Korram, who carried a reward of Rs.5 lakh on her head and Bhadaru Korram and Sunita Nag with a reward of Rs.3 lakh each on their heads. Seven out of 24 ultras carried a reward of Rs.1 lakh each on their heads.
Commando injured in blast
In a separate incident in Bijapur district of Bastar, a commando of the CRPF’s elite unit CoBRA was injured in an IED blast triggered by the Maoists.
The incident took place near Basaguda area of Bijapur when a CoBRA team was returning after completing a combing operation against the Maoists.
The injured commando was admitted to a hospital in Bijapur district headquarters and was said to be “out of danger”.