At least five cadres of the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) surrendered in insurgency-riddled Kondagaon district, police announced on Saturday.
They surrendered Naxals were members of Naxal Jan-militia active in different parts of the district, Superintendent of Police (SP) Kondagaon JS Watti informed.
The ultras have been identified as Sonaru alias lal Singh Yadav (30), Phool Singh Yadav alias Divas (40), lakshman alias Hadi alias Dusray Korram (27), Samdu Korram (40) and Ayatu (51) all residents of Mardapal.
They were wanted by police in connection with different criminal cases registered for their involvement in attempt to murder, murder and loot cases.
The ultras claimed they had to surrender as they were relentlessly pressured on them through intense patrolling in forests and regular search operations by security forces. They also confessed before police that a dream surrender policy adopted by the State Government was another factor which inspired them to give up path of violence and join mainstream of society.
Chhattisgarh Home Department says between September 1, 2015 and February 29, 2016, a total of 117 encounters were reported between police and Naxals and 420 Naxals surrendered during this period. Police were able to neutralise at least 56 ultras while forces also suffered more 11 casualties in the same period.