Jharkhand: Five hardcore ultras lay down their arms

All the Maoists, who surrendered, were felicitated by the police officers by offering them shawls. Police appealed to other ultras to lay down their arms and join the mainstream.

Ranchi: Five hardcore members of the CPI (Maoist), a proscribed outfit, surrendered in the presence of the top-ranking police personnel in Jharkhand's capital Ranchi on Monday. Five rebels, who were carrying rewards on their heads, laid down their arms under the Jharkhand government's surrender and rehabilitation policy. All the Maoists, who surrendered, were felicitated by the police officers by offering them shawls. Police appealed to other ultras to lay down their arms and join the mainstream.

Among the Maoists, who surrendered on Monday, were the zonal commander Amarjit Yadav, carrying a reward of Rs 10 lakhs on his head, sub-zonal commander Sahdev Yadav, carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakhs, , sub-zonal commander Neeru Yadav alias Salim, , sub-zonal commander Santosh Bhuiyan alias Sukoon and Member of the Maoist squad Ashok Baiga alias Ashok.

These Maoist rebels came forward to surrender before the police by taking advantage of the Jharkhand government's rehabilitation policy called 'Nai Disha'. The surrendered rebels had created a reign of terror in districts such as Chatra, Hazaribagh in Jharkhand, Gaya and Aurangabad in Bihar.

Speaking on the occasion, IG Amol V Homkar said, "The surrender of Maoist rebels was the outcome of carrying continuous crackdown against them in sensitive districts like Chatra and Hazaribagh. Several rebels were killed in the police operation. The days of Left Wing insurgency are numbered. The relentless efforts carried out by the troopers of CRPF, district police and others compelled rebels to surrender."