Nagpur, Dec 10 (NationPress) In a significant development, 11 Maoists with a total bounty of Rs 82 lakh voluntarily surrendered to the police in Maharashtra's Maoist-affected Gadchiroli on Wednesday, marking a crucial victory for law enforcement in diminishing the influence of the red rebels in the area.

According to officials, these eleven individuals have participated in violent activities for many years, operating across both Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. They surrendered in front of Maharashtra's Director General of Police Rashmi Shukla during a ceremony held in Gadchiroli.

Among the surrendering Maoists, four came forward with their weapons and Maoist uniforms.

A key figure in the group was Ramesh, also known as Bhima or Baju Guddi Lekami, who had a reward of Rs 16 lakh on his head and faced 88 charges in Gadchiroli alone, which included 43 encounters, eight arson incidents, and 37 additional offenses. His involvement in crimes in other states is currently under investigation. He became part of the banned organization in 2004.

Present at the event were senior police officials, including Additional DGP (Special Operations) Chhering Dorje, who were visiting Gadchiroli for two days starting Tuesday.

Law enforcement indicated that increasing disillusionment with Maoist ideology and the violence inflicted upon civilians have driven many members of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) to pursue rehabilitation under the state's Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy, established in 2005.

To date, 783 Maoists have surrendered to the Gadchiroli Police under this initiative.

This latest surrender follows two significant mass surrenders earlier this year. On January 1, another group of 11 Maoists, including Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee member Tarakka Sidam, surrendered to state leadership. Later, on October 15, Politburo and Central Committee member Mallojula Venugopal Rao, also known as Bhupathi or Sonu, along with 61 senior cadres, surrendered to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

The police noted that these developments have considerably weakened Maoist power in Gadchiroli and the broader Dandakaranya region.

During the DGP's visit, a ceremony was held at Eklavya Hall, where C-60 officers and personnel were honored for their role in securing the surrender of 61 Maoists in the Laheri forest area.

The DGP stated, “These officers and personnel, risking their own lives, ventured into an incredibly remote forest area and accomplished remarkable success.”

She urged remaining armed cadres to disarm and “integrate into the democratic framework to lead a life of dignity.”

Additionally, the DGP unveiled a guidebook titled "Project Udaan -- A Glimpse of Development: Government Scheme Handbook", created by the Gadchiroli Police to assist officers in disseminating information about state welfare initiatives in isolated regions.

snj/skp