Chhattisgarh: Boost for police as 10 Naxals from Bastar surrender

Raipur: In a big success for Chhattisgarh police in its fight against Naxalism, 10 ultras, including two couples, today surrendered in Bijapur district. The Naxals who surrendered, mostly from national park area committee of Maoist-hit Bastar region, said they were disappointed by the “high-handedness of senior cadres and atrocities on tribals by them,” Bijapur Deputy Superintendent of Police Sukhnandan Rathore said.  Those who surrendered are - Sonu Korsa (24), his wife Korsa Bodhi (25), Madkam Joga (27), his wife Madkam Budhri (25), Budhram Hapka (30), Arjun Telam (20), Korsa Kosa (20), Mahadev Gawde (24), Vijay Majji (28) and Midium Dewa (23). Sonu Korsa joined the naxal movement in 2005 and was working in the Bijapur region. He possessed an Insas rifle. His wife Korsa Bodhi was a member of the medical team of National area park committee since 2007. Another alleged hardcore rebel, Madkam Joga, was heading the national park LGS (local guerrilla squad) group since 2008 and possessed a SLR rifle. His wife Madkam Budhri, worked along with him. Budhram Hapka was an influential Bhairamgadh LGS commander. Arjun Telam and Korsa Kosa, members of national park military platoon no. 2 also quit the movement. A member of press team of western Bastar division of Maoist, Mahadev Gawde, Bhairamgarh militia platoon member Vijay Majji and Peddakorma militia platoon member Midium Deva also surrendered. “The cadres fled from their camps early this morning and reached the police,” the DSP said. No weapons were recovered from their possession as they had to escape without arms, he said. Rathore said the reason cited by the Naxals for leaving the movement are - alleged exploitation of women and villagers by ultras, killing of innocent tribals on the pretext of being informers, extortion, forceful recruitment of youths in the movement and restricting development works in the region. Those who surrendered were given Rs 10,000 cash as encouragement money and later they will be rehabilitated as per the policies of the state government, he added. PTI