6 ultras with 14 lakh bounty surrender in Bijapur district

RAIPUR: Six Maoists, including a platoon commander and section commander, carrying cash rewards of Rs 14 lakh surrendered before security forces in Bijapur on Wednesday.

Platoon commander Dilip Vadde alias Chinna gave up his AK-47 assault rifle to Bijapur SP Divyang Patel and section commander Madkam Banda surrendered his SLR rifle - both looted from security forces.

Madkam was involved in some of the biggest attacks on forces - including the Chintalnar ambush - and had fired a rocket launcher at troops during an attack in 2017 in Narayanpur, say police.

Patel told reporters that the six Maoists quit the path of insurgency because they had realized the "hollowness" of Maoist ideology. "They are disappointed with the hollow ideology of Maoists and at the same time influenced by the rehabilitation policy of the Chhattisgarh government for surrendered Maoists. The wives of Chinna and Madkam Banda, who were also involved in violence, also surrendered," the SP said.

Chinna carried a reward of Rs 8 lakh and commanded the second platoon of company No.1 of Maoists, Patel said. "He joined the Maoist ranks in 2002 and was involved in loot, ambush and encounters with police and security forces. He was also involved in several deadly attacks on forces in Dantewada and Narayanpur districts," the SP added.

Chinna's wife, Sanki Vadde alias Sujata, was an active member of his platoon and carried a cash reward of Rs 2 lakh. Madkam, deputy section commander of company No. 1, and his wife Budri Usendi were members of the local squad and carried bounties of Rs 3 lakh and Rs 1 lakh. They were active in Kutul area of Bijapur district.

The other surrendered cadres were identified as Mahesh Wasam and Vinod Metta, who worked as members of Chetna Natya Manch wing of the Maoists. "A cash assistance of Rs 10,000 was given to each of the surrendered rebels as encouragement money. They will be given further assistance as per the surrender and rehabilitation policy," the SP added.