Eight Maoists including two women insurgents surrendered before the police in the insurgency-hit Bijapur district. Three of the surrendered ultras were carrying cash rewards ranging from Rs1 lakh to Rs3 lakh, police said here on Sunday. The insurgents were identified as Shankar Poyam (30) of Bhairamgarh, Prakash Podiyami (20) of Nelsanar, Ramsu Tamo alias Katav (21) of Bhairamgarh, Munni Paodiyami (30), Malti (20) from Dantewada, Vetti Aytu (42) and Mohan Vatti (27) both from Awapalli and Sukhram Hemla (29) hailing from Gangalur.
Superintendent of Police (SP), Bijapur, Kl Dhruv informed that Shankar Poyam was member of Maoist military platoon number 16 and also President of CNM (Chetna Natya Mandali) one of the offshoots of banned organisation Communist Party of India (Maoist). “Shankar was appointed Naxal Militia Commander active in Belnar in 2005. He was involved in triggering IED near village Bodli under Nelsanar police station in 2010 where two jawans of Naga Battalion had lost their lives. The insurgent had also killed Salwajudum leaders,” the SP said, adding, reward of Rs1 lakh was declared on his head.
Prakash Podyami, Deputy Commander of Section-A of Maoist Military platoon number 1 was trained in handling automatic weapons and planting IED. The insurgent along with other Naxals had carried out ambush attack on a police party in Bhatpal under Orcha police station wherein 3 police personnel died. The State Government had declared reward of Rs3 lakh on his head, he said. Ramsu Tamo who was Janmilitia Commander active in Bhairamgarh was part of Naxal team which had attacked police party in Farsegarh in 2012. Two police personnel had martyred in the attack, he said adding Ramsu carried reward of Rs1 lakh on his head.
The other surrendered ultras were members of different Naxal outfits and used to support insurgents in operating Naxal activities in the region, he said. They were provided with reward of Rs5,000 as immediate assistance, Dhruv said.