A total of 16 insurgents have surrendered in Sukma and Bijapur districts in restive Bastar region of Chhattisgarh during the past 24 hours. Among the 16 insurgents, there were 14 belonging to Kerlapal Area Committee of the banned CPI (Maoist) who arrived at the headquarters of 2nd battalion of Central Reserve Police Force in Sukma district on Thursday evening, according to CRPF Battalion Commandant VVN Prasanna.
The insurgents Kawasi Bandi (25), Jitender (19), Musaki Hidma (35), Bhima (25), Soma (44), Madkam Deva (35) and Sodi Singan (28) were working as local Operation Squad (lOS) and Sangham members in Kerlapal area and the others as village level members in the same region, he said. The insurgents cited utter disappointment with the Maoist movement, exploitation of lower rank and women insurgents besides atrocities of senior Maoist leaders from Andhra Pradesh as key reasons for their surrender, he said. The surrendered insurgents also alleged that senior Maoist leaders forced and threatened them to join the movement, the Battalion Commandant said.
This apart, two insurgents which included a minor girl, surrendered in Bijpaur district on Thursday evening. The insurgents were identified as Sarita alias Swarupa Kudiyam (17), a member of Awapalli lOS and Munna Padam (23), a Militia Member under Ganagloor Area Committee of Maoists, according to Bijapur District Collector Md Abdul Qaisar Haque and Superintendent of Police (SP) Kl Dhruv.