Notably 23 Maoists including two women, had surrendered recently on February 28 in Bastar district. (File photo)
Twenty-three Maoists today surrendered in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh citing "disappointment" with the violent activities of outlawed outfits.
The Maoists turned themselves in before senior police and administration officials, saying they were frustrated with the violent and anti-development activities of its leaders, Bastar Superintendent of Police RN Dash told PTI.
The Maoists were also impressed by the surrender policy of the state government, Mr Dash said.
Of them, three cadres - Kamlesh Naag and Tulsi Ram Naag - who were janmilitia 'commander' and Naresh Kumar Kashyap a janmilitia 'platoon commander', were carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakh each on their heads.
A janmilitia 'deputy commander', Pramod Thakur, was also among the surrendered cadres, Mr Dash said.
Rest of the surrendered Maoists were belonging to lower rung of the banned outfit, he added.
"All the surrendered cadres possess ration and Adhaar cards. Besides, 14 of them have bank accounts. Moreover, 20 of them have voter ID cards while four are beneficiaries of Indira Awas Yojna," the SP said.
He said police are often accused of staging fake surrender by branding innocent villagers as ultras. The activists claim that villagers who have voter ID cards and other ID proofs were picked up by police.
But after some recent surrenders, we acknowledged that Naxals too have government certified ID proofs, he said.
With these cards Naxals try to mislead police as people think Maoists can't possess such ID cards, the SP said.
A consolation amount of Rs 10,000 was given to each of them and they will be ensured facilities under the surrender and rehabilitation policy, he added.
Notably 23 Maoists including two women, had surrendered recently on February 28 in Bastar district.