Security officials with Maoist who have surrendered under Lone Varatu campaign on Wednesday, April 24
In yet another breakthrough for the security forces battling with the Maoists in hinterlands of Chhattisgarh, as many as 18 Maoists including 3 female cadres of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist) surrendered before the forces on Wednesday, April 24.
The surrender occurred under the flagship initiative “Lone Varatu” (An appeal of homecoming in the local Gondi dialect) being jointly undertaken by the security forces and the administration in Maoist affected Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh.
Those who have surrendered were reportedly fed up with the ill treatment given to them during their association years in the proscribed outfit.
Briefing about the development, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Sushma Patel, informed that “persistent efforts are being made by the police to make the villagers aware of the counter-insurgency and ‘Lone Varatu’ campaign, which has resulted in surrender of Maoist in large numbers.”
“As many as 18 Maoists, including militia members, members of Chetna Natya Mandali (CNM), Kisan Adivasi Mazdoor Sangh (KAMS), Dandkaranya Adivasi Kisan Mazdoor Sangh (DAKMS) under the Bhairamgarh Area Committee and KMS members of the Malangir Area Committee, have surrendered before the police. Those who have surrendered will be provided with immediate financial assistance of Rs 25000 each, along with other benefits under the State government surrender and rahabiltation policy”, added ASP Patel.
Further, the ASP while making an appeal to the Maoist, said that those brothers and sisters who wanted to join the mainstream by shunning the path of violence could approach the nearest police station and contribute in the process of development.
It is noteworthy that scores of former cadres of the outlawed Maoist outfit have surrendered before the police due to persistent operations conducted by the security forces in core Maoist zone of Bastar lately.
Earlier, in a similar incident of mass surrender, as many as 26 Maoist had also turned themselves before the police on April 15 and surrendered under “Lone Varatu” in Dantewada district itself.
“Those who have surrendered were all part of the banned CPI Maoist and were fed up with the anti-development, anti-people hollow ideology of the insurgents”, said Superintendent of Police (SP), Dantewada, Gaurav Rai in a press briefing.
Further, while terming the development as a significant one as it had occurred on a day on which the Maoist outfit had given a call for a shutdown, Rai informed me that those who have surrendered will be provided with financial assistance of Rs 25000 each as per the State government surrender and rehabilitation policy.
It was then reported that other than the district police, the Central Reserve Police Force has also played a vital role in motivating these Maoist to shun the path of violence and choose a life of dignity in the mainstream.
“Lone Varatu Campaign”
Commenced in June 2020, the flagship campaign has turned out to be a success story for the security forces in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh, which have been badly affected by left wing terrorism for over a decade.
Significantly, as many as 738 former cadres of the banned Maoist outfit have so far surrendered under the flagship campaign. Those who have surrendered under the initiative also include as many as 177 Maoists who were carrying a reward at the time of surrender.
The campaign was launched mainly with the aim to outreaching those local youths who had mistakenly joined the outlawed outfit under the influence of Maoist propaganda and wanted to make a come back in the mainstream by shunning the path of violence.
It is worth mentioning here that most of the local youths who are part of the outlawed group are mostly recruited in the outfit at a tender age who are further brainwashed and prepared as guerilla fighters in subsequent years.
It is to be noted that information pertaining to mistreatment and discrimination with the local cadres including with their female counterparts by the Maoist commanders hailing from other regions have been keep coming to the fore on a regular basis. The issue have also been highlighted by those who have surrendered before the forces in recent years.
Significantly, a similar campaign namely “Poona Narkom” (meaning new dawn) has also been launched and being run by the security forces in neighboring Sukma district which has also led to the surrender of scores of Maoist including a few notable names carrying rewards.
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