Martyr’s Week: 12 Hard Core Maoists Operating On Odisha-AP Border Surrender Before Vizag Police

Visakhapatnam: Jolting a major setback for the Left Wing Extremists (LWEs) amid the ongoing ‘Martyr’s Week call by the ultras, 12 Maoist cadres involved in extremism in the bordering areas of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh surrendered at Chintapalli Police Station under Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh on Sunday.

Additional Police Commissioner, Vidya Sagar Naidu welcomed them with flower bouquets and bag of fruits. Briefing media about the development, Naidu said, “All the surrendered Maoists are the members of Galikonda group active in Odisha and AP border.”

“The ultras were frustrated by slaughter of innocent villagers over suspicion of police informers and also due to the infighting in the organisation. The threat to life from the military also stimulated them to lay down their arms,” said Naidu.

As per reports, the hardcore cadres who were involved in many violent attacks on security personnel in the past were residents of GK Bidhi Panchayat under Visakhapatnam district.

It is pertinent to mention here that, while the Maoists are influencing gullible youths into joining their ‘movement’ during the Martyr’s Week, the Andhra Pradesh Police have also been conducting many awareness campaigns and welfare schemes calling the extremists to surrender and join the mainstream.

Speaking on the rehabilitation process for the surrendered Maoists, Naidu said they will be brought back to the mainstream under the government schemes and the police will ensure that they and their wards are educated at police schools, said Naidu.

Sources said, at least, 13 such extremists had surrendered with Chintapalli police in Andhra Pradesh last November.

(Edited By Suryakant Jena)