Two Naxalites with Rs 8 Lakh Bounty Surrender in Gadchiroli

Gadchiroli : Two Naxalites carrying a total bounty of Rs 8 lakh have surrendered to security forces in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district, police officials confirmed on Saturday.

The duo, identified as Ramasu Poyam alias Narsingh (55) and Ramesh Kunjam alias Govind (25), surrendered before the Gadchiroli police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on Friday. Poyam, with a bounty of Rs 6 lakh, has been active in Maoist activities since 1992 and had served as an area committee member (ACM) in the Kutul and Nelnar local organization squads (LOS) since 2010. He is wanted in 12 cases, including six encounters, five murders, and a dacoity charge.

Kunjam, with a Rs 2 lakh bounty, joined the Maoist movement in 2019 and became a member of the Kutul LOS in 2021 after being recruited by the Chetna Natya Manch (CNM) in 2020.

The surrender follows the Gadchiroli police’s aggressive crackdown on Maoist activities in the region. Family members of the two Naxalites also played a crucial role in persuading them to lay down their arms after the recent arrests of their colleagues.

As part of the government’s surrender-cum-rehabilitation policy, both men will receive Rs 4.5 lakh each for their rehabilitation, a scheme jointly initiated by the Central and Maharashtra governments.

According to the Gadchiroli police, 680 active Maoists have surrendered so far, with 20 hardcore Maoists laying down arms in 2024 alone. Superintendent of Police, Neelotpal, assured that all necessary support would be extended to individuals willing to surrender and reintegrate into society.

The state government’s rehabilitation initiative continues to attract members of the banned CPI (Maoist) to surrender, as part of efforts to curb Maoist influence and bring peace to the region.