Sixteen Naxalites, nine of them carrying a collective reward of Rs 48 lakh, surrendered in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district on Wednesday, a senior police official said.

The cadres, including seven women, turned themselves in before senior police officials here, citing that they were disappointed with the "hollow" and "inhuman" Maoist ideology, atrocities committed by Naxalites on innocent tribals, and increasing pressure from security forces, Narayanpur Superintendent of Police Robinson Guria said.

Of the surrendered, Podiya Markam alias Ratan (34), a deputy commander of military platoon no. 1 of Maoists, Manoj Dugga alias (35), Sumitra alias Sunny Kursam (35) and Vanila Farsa (35), all members of military companies, and Gawade alias Diwakar (45), a divisional committee member, all car

See Full Page