11 Naxalites with Rs 68 lakh bounty surrender in Maharashtra

Eleven Naxalites, including five senior cadres, on Thursday surrendered in eastern Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli, police said, claiming that the Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) has almost come to an end in the district. 

The Maoist cadres, which included six women, were carrying a total reward of Rs 68 lakh on their heads. They surrendered before police and Central Reserve Police Force officials, said a release from Gadchiroli Police.

As many as 123 armed Maoists have surrendered in the district, which borders Chhattisgarh, over the last one year, police said.

The Naxal movement, once active in all 10 sub-divisions of the district, is now confined only to the border areas of Bhamragad sub-division, claimed the release.

The cadres who turned themselves in on Thursday were identified as Divisional Committee Member (DVCM) Soni alias Bali Vatte Mattami (45), Area Committee Secretary Budari alias Rambatti Mattami (40), Sukhlal Koksa (31), Shanti alias Somari Telami (28), Yamunakka alias Rukhmakka Pendam (60), Ganesh Kowasi (21), Minako alias Jamani Mattami (22), Dhanu Velanje (38), Sunita alias Vange Hoyam (25), Ramesh Madavi (28) and Kishor Vasam (33).

The Naxal movement received a major blow last October when Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Bhupathi, along with 61 senior cadres, surrendered before Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Gadchiroli, the police noted.

Special Inspector General of Police Sandip Patil appealed to the remaining Maoist cadres to lay down their arms and join mainstream society.