Disenchanted with Maoist ideology and attracted by the ‘Lon Varratu’ (Homecoming) drive launched by the police in Bastar in Chhattisgarh, a Maoist couple has surrendered, police said on Wednesday.
Prakash alias Pandu, a resident of Kuakonda in Dantewada, and his wife Hadme Kartami, who is from Gadiras Sukma, have surrendered, Dantewada Superintendent of Police Abhishek Pallav said in a press release.
Pandu was a member of the Maoist platoon number 24 and also a medical team member while his wife was a member of CNM (Chetna Nataya Mandali), a front for the CPI (Maoist), Pallav said.
Pandu carried a cash reward of Rs 2 lakh on his head. He was involved in an ambush in the NMDC Plant area in May 2012 in which six policemen and a civilian driver were killed.
He was part of a Maoist team that triggered an IED blast in Cholnar village in April 2015 that claimed the lives of five jawans. He was also involved in the killing of a man, Badru Baghat, in Potali-Nahadi village in 2015, Pallav said.
Both were provided with immediate assistance of Rs 10,000 each and will be rehabilitated as per the provisions of the Chhattisgarh government, the officer added.
According to police, 26 Naxalites have surrendered under the ‘Lon Varratu’ programme so far.
