Six Maoists, who were involved in several violent operations, surrendered before the police in Malkangiri district on Monday “due to disillusionment with rebel activities”.
The Maoists, who surrendered before the district Superintendent of Police, were involved in a number of offences including blasting of pipeline of a private steel company, blowing up of several buildings, loot and extortions for the last five years, Malkangiri SP Akhileswar Singh said.
All the six Maoists belong to the Ranginiguda and Raleguda areas, he said. They were also engaged in collection of information, organising meetings in remote villages and carrying messages of Maoist leaders, they revealed.
They were identified as Raju Hentala (43), Bhanja Hentala (35), Purushottam Khara (27), Rupa Khila (42), Tripati Khara (25) and Gopinath Pangi (28).
The surrendered rebels said they decided to return to the mainstream to lead a normal life after realising that the Maoists had deviated from their ideology. Moreover, they suffered discrimination and ill-treatment by senior leaders, they said.