Police and security personnel with two Maoists after they surrendered in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra, on Friday, December. 20, 2024 Photo credit: PTI
Two Naxalites carrying a cumulative reward of ₹ 8 lakh surrendered before security forces in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district, police said on Saturday (Dec 21, 2024).
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55-year-old Ramsu Poyam alias Narsingh, a resident of Gadchiroli and 25-year-old Ramesh Kunjam alias Govind, a resident of Narayanpur in neighboring Chhattisgarh, surrendered before the Gadchiroli police and the Central Reserve Police Force on Friday. It is stated in the statement issued by the police.
Poyam, who carries a bounty of Rs 6 lakh, was recruited as a member of Tipagarh LOS in 1992 and served as Area Committee Member (ACM) in Kutul and Nelnar LOS since 2010, it said.
According to the police, Poyam has 12 cases including 6 encounters, 5 murders and robbery.
Kunjam, who received a reward of Rs 2 lakh, joined the militia in 2019. He was inducted as a member of Chetna Natya Mancha (CNM) in 2020 and became a member of Kutul LOS in 2021, they said.
They surrendered due to aggressive action of Gadchiroli police against Maoist activities. After their colleagues were arrested, their family members also persuaded them to take up arms.
The men will get ₹ 4.5 lakh each for rehabilitation as announced by the Center and the Maharashtra government.
The Gadchiroli police said a large number of banned CPI (Maoists) were lured by the state government’s surrender-cum-rehabilitation policy and 680 active Maoists have surrendered so far.
This year alone, 20 hardline Maoists have surrendered. Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police Nilotpal has assured that those who want to surrender and join the mainstream of the society will get the necessary support.
published – December 21, 2024 at 11:14 am IST