In Chhattisgarh, 16 Maoists surrendered to police and CRPF officials today in Sukma district. Of these, a reward of 25 lakh rupees was declared on 6 Maoists. These Maoists are accused of being involved in various Naxal incidents.
Maoists who surrendered were provided incentives of 50,000 thousand rupees each under the rehabilitation policy of the Government of Chhattisgarh. Along with this, they will also be provided with other facilities.
Nine among those who surrendered belong to the Kerlapenda village panchayat. The group surrender has made the panchayat eligible for the Elvad Panchayat Scheme of the State government. Under this scheme announced as part of the new surrender and rehabilitation policy unveiled earlier this year, any village where all wanted Naxals surrender is declared Naxal-free and receives grants for development projects worth ₹1 crore
Kerlapanda is the second such village in Sukma district after Badesatti, which was declared Naxal-free in April after the surrender of 11 lower-rung Naxalites from there.
Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan said that 16 cadres, including a woman, turned themselves in before senior police and Central Reserve Police Force officials citing disappointment with the “hollow” and “inhuman” Maoist ideology and atrocities by the Naxals on local tribals.