A hardcore Naxal and Commander of local Guerrilla Squad (lGS) who was allegedly involved in Jheeram valley attack on Congress party convoy, surrendered before the police along with a Self-loading Rifle (SlR) in Dantewada district, police said on Wednesday. The lGS Commander was carrying cash reward of Rs5 lakh on his head and was identified as Kiran alias Kamlesh alias Sannu Potam (26), native of Bijapur district, Dantewada Superintendent of Police (SP) Kamlochan Kashyap informed.
Potam before surrendering used to work as an active lGS Commander of Maoist Malangir Area Committee, the SP said. Potam was deeply disappointed with Maoist ideology and discrimination within the organisation, and hence turned himself before police along with a SlR, two magazines and 47 live cartridges, he said. According to Kashyap, the 26-year-old lGS Commander was associated with the Maoist movement since 2005.
After being inducted in the banned organisation, he came in contact with some prominent cadres including lOS Commander Hariram, Secretary of South Regional Committee Ramanna and others. Before being elevated as lGS Commander of Malangiri Area Committee in 2011, the rebel hailing from Bijapur district worked in several ranks like member of Chetna Natya Manch (CNM)- the cultural wing of the banned outfit in Darbha region, Organising Member in Katekalyan area, Deputy Commander of Kanger Ghati local Operation Squad (lOS) and CNM Commander in Malangiri area committee. Highlighting Kiran’s involvement in Naxal incidents, Kashyap said the surrendered insurgent along with Company-3 Commander Basantu Potam and others had targetted a relief camp in Gangaloor (in 2006).