Top CPI (Maoist) leader, 11 others surrender in Chhattisgarh

Twelve Maoists — including Ramder alias Soma, a Central Committee Member (CCM) of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) and in charge of its Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh Confluence (MCC) zone — surrendered before the police on Monday.

“..MMC Zone CC Member Ramdher is rehabilitating with his associates. He is abandoning the language of violence and gunfire and joining the mainstream of development, and we have come here today to share this information. Ramdher carries a reward of ₹1.5 crore,” said Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai at a press conference in Rajnandgaon where the latest batch of Maoists surrendered.

Ramadher was one of the two CCMs from Chhattisgarh, the other being Madvi Hidma who was gunned down by security forces in Andhra Pradesh last month, said Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma at the same event. He added that Ramadher’s surrender meant the MMC zone was almost “completely clear” from a security point of view.

Outside the Bastar region, the MMC zone comprises areas such as Balaghat in Madhya Pradesh and Gondia in Maharashtra. Gondia is considered a key area where the Maoist had built influence over the last decade. The latest development comes a day after ten Maoists, including four women, surrendered in the presence of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav in Balaghat district.

Arms surrendered

According to the police, the senior tribal leader surrendered a stolen AK-47. Others who surrendered include Divisional Committee members Chandu Usendi and Janki. In all, three stolen AK-47 rifles, three INSAS rifles, a Self-Loading Rifle (SLR), a carbine and two .303 rifles were submitted by the Maoists, said a police officer.

At the Rajnandgaon event, Mr. Sai said that in the past two years, over 4,000 Maoists had either surrendered or were killed by the security forces in Chhattisgarh. Among the top Maoist leaders killed in the State are Nambala Keshava Rao alias Basva Raju, the then general secretary of the Maoists. In all, nine CC members have been killed by the security forces in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh.