NAGPUR: Nine members of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) surrendered to the police in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh on Sunday, the police said.
“Nine Maoists left the CPI (Maoist) and surrendered to the police in presence of Dantewada district Superintendent of Police Kamlochan Kashyap on Sunday after getting disillusioned with the Maoist movement due to constant discrimination and exploitation (by senior Maoist leaders). The Maoists, who surrendered on Sunday, include Nanda, the gunman for senior Maoist leader and member of the CPI (Maoist) Dand Karanya Special Zonal Committee Ganesh Uike,” Chhattisgarh police said in a press statement.
Nanda alias Barse had joined the Maoist outfit in 2009 and was working as its area committee member, apart from being a gunman for Uike, who also heads the South Regional Committee of the CPI (Maoist) in Dandkaranya.
“He carried a reward of ₹5 lakh on his head and was involved in the Tahakwada ambush on the CRPF in 2014, in which 16 jawans were killed, and the Kasalpara ambush in which 14 CRPF men died,” the police said.
Nanda surrendered along with Maoist leader Sukka Madkam, who carried a reward of ₹8 lakh on his head and was involved in the two recent Maoist attacks on security forces in Sukma district, in which 37 CRPF men were killed.
Others who surrendered were identified as Malangir Local Guerrilla Squad Commander Hinga; Malangir Local Operating Squad commander Baman Kunjam; Bhima Podiyami; Kosi Mandavi; Sudru Podia; Sahadev Kunjami; and Budhram Sodi.
“All of them have many offences registered against them in various police stations of Sukma and Dantewada. They were given an ‘encouragement bonus’ of ₹10,000 on Sunday,” the statement said.