Sukma: Days after the recent encounter in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district in which 27 Maoists were killed, a total of 18 Maoists surrendered in the presence of CRPF and district police officials in Sukma District Police Headquarters. These surrendered Maoists carried a reward of Rs 39 lakh on their heads.
Among them were six Maoists who had serious charges registered against them, including encounter, murder, arson, damage to government properties, and involvement in four different IED blasts.
Under the rehabilitation policy of the state government, an incentive amount of Rs 50 thousand has been given to each surrendered Maoist. Notably, due to the increasing pressure of security forces and continuous operations, there is an atmosphere of fear among the Maoists, the effect of which is now beginning to come to the fore.
Due to the recent security operations in the state, Maoist organisations are seen to be shaken in many districts of the Bastar division, such as Narayanpur, Bijapur, Sukma, and Dantewada. The continuous encounters and increasing surrenders are an indication that the strategy of the state government and security forces is now showing effect. As per police and security officials, more Maoists are likely to surrender in the coming days.
Noted Maoist cremated in Narayanpur
Earlier on Monday, Basavaraju, the general secretary of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), who was killed in an encounter with security forces on May 21, was cremated in Narayanpur district. The police claimed that no legal claimants of the Maoists came forward to receive his body.
“Following the operation, the authorities recovered the bodies of 27 Maoists. Of these, 20 were claimed by their family members and were handed over after due verification. However, no one came forward to claim the body of Basavaraju, who was carrying a reward of ₹1 crore announced by the Chhattisgarh government, with additional reward from other states and central agencies,” the statement by the police said.
