12 maoists surrender in Chhattisgarh

Twelve maoists on Friday surrendered before the police and paramilitary Border Security Force (BSF) in the Kanker district of Chhattisgarh.

Under the rehabilitation policy for maoists, the district administration will be giving the reward money to the 12 maoists who surrendered here.

The maoists were carrying reward on their heads and turned themselves before the Superintendent of Police (SP) R.N.Dash, Inspector General (IG) of Bastar Range SRP Kalluri and IG of BSF and SS Chahar.

"Total of twelve maoists who have surrendered, one of them have reward of 5 lakh rupees on his head and another has reward of 3 lakh rupees and the rest ten have reward money of one lakh each on them.

"As per the information acquired, they were forcefully involved with the maoist organsiation, but they were not happy with the act," R.N. Dash, the Superintendent of Police said.

Reportedly, among the surrendered, Somnath Darro (35), who was working as LOS (local operation squad) commander in Medhki region, was the most dreaded one who was involved in several deadly maoist attacks.

Reports suggest that in the past incidents, total of 50 maoists were either arrested or surrendered, which has made their organisation weak in the region.

Maoists, also known as naxals, have killed police and politicians, and targeted government buildings and railway tracks in an insurgency that has killed thousands since 1960s.

The maoists control large but poor areas of the region and often attack railway lines and mining operations to cripple economic activity, such as the transportation of coal to power and steel companies.