Gadchiroli: In a significant development, two hardcore Maoists have surrendered before the police and security forces in Maoist-hit Gadchiroli district on Thursday, February 27, police said.
The surrendered Maoists have been identified as Kanta alias Kantakka alias Mandi Galu Pallo and Suresh alias Warlu Irpa Majji. The surrender took place before the officials of the police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
The duo renounced the path of violence, citing frustration and disillusionment with the extremist’s ideology on Thursday. They were carrying a cumulative bounty of Rs 18 lakhs on their heads as announced by the government.
One of the surrendered cadres Kanta joined the outlawed group in 1993. She had donned many roles in the outfit and was active as a Divisional Committee (DVC) Member before she decided to part ways with the group. She was reportedly involved in various encounters with the police and named in 11 cases. The other Maoist cadre Suresh joined the Maoist group in the year 2021.
#Gadchiroli l सुमारे १८ लाख रुपयांचे बक्षीस जाहीर केलेल्या दोन जहाल नक्षल्यांचं जिल्हा पोलिस आणि केंद्रीय राखीव दलापुढे आत्मसमर्पण
♦️कांता उर्फ कांतक्का उर्फ मांडी गालू पल्लो आणि सुरेश उर्फ वारलू ईरपा मज्जी अशी आत्मसमर्पण करणाऱ्या नक्षल्यांची नावे आहेत.@SP_GADCHIROLI pic.twitter.com/RUaN4aHXDw
— AIR News Mumbai, आकाशवाणी मुंबई (@airnews_mumbai) February 27, 2025
The duo cited frustration with the Maoists group, stating that little attention was paid to the party members in terms of their medical needs by the seniors. They further underscored the killing of locals on suspicion of espionage activities and discrimination against female Maoist cadres among reasons for their disillusionment with the group.
Both the surrendered cadres will be rehabilitated as per the state government’s surrender cum rehabilitation policy.
Earlier, four Maoist cadres including a DVC member and an Area Committee Member (ACM) surrendered before the police in the district on February 3. The other two surrendered Maoists were active as Platoon Members.
The four were carrying a cumulative reward of Rs 28 lakhs as announced by the government. The surrender took place before the officials of Gadchiroli police and CRPF.
#WATCH | Maharashtra: Four naxals surrendered before Gadchiroli Police and CRPF today. The naxals carried a total reward of Rs. 28 Lakhs. One DVCM (Divisional Committee Member) senior cadre naxal along with one ACM (Area Committee Member) and two Platoon Members, surrendered… pic.twitter.com/iKoZPd4U5P
— ANI (@ANI) February 3, 2025
Notably, 11 Maoists including the infamous Vimla Chandra Sidam alias Tarakka, who carried a bounty of Rs 1 crore had surrendered before the police in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli on January 1.
The surrendered group included 8 women Maoists who laid down weapons at Gadchiroli Police Headquarters. They had bounties totaling more than Rs 1 crore on their heads. Chhattisgarh government had also declared reward on them.
Security forces arrests 18 Maoists from Bijapur, explosives seized
In a related development, security forces in separate operations arrested 18 Maoists alongside seizing explosives in violence ridden Bijapur district on Thursday.
According to the details, while 10 Maoist cadres were arrested from the forests of Gunjeperti under Usur police station limits 7 more were held near the forests area of Rajpenta under the jurisdiction of Basaguda police station. The security team also recovered explosives from the arrested individuals.
Additionally, another Maoist was also apprehended during a joint operation by the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and police.
It must be noted here that the security forces have tightened the grip on the outlawed group in the Maoist affected regions lately, launching continuous combing operations in the forested zones often leading to encounters along arrests of Maoist cadres.
