Gadchiroli, March 19 Eleven Naxalites, including five senior leaders, surrendered in Gadchiroli, eastern Maharashtra, on Thursday, according to police, claiming that Left Wing Extremism (LWE) has almost ended in the district.
The Maoist cadres, which included six women, had a total bounty of Rs 68 lakh on their heads. They surrendered to police and Central Reserve Police Force officials, according to a release from the Gadchiroli Police.
As many as 123 armed Maoists have surrendered in the district, which borders Chhattisgarh, over the past year, police said.
The Naxal movement, which was once active in all 10 sub-divisions of the district, is now confined only to the border areas of the Bhamragad sub-division, the release claimed.
The cadres who surrendered on Thursday were identified as Divisional Committee Member (DVCM) Soni alias Bali Vatte Mattami (45), Area Committee Secretary Budari alias Rambatti Mattami (40), Sukhlal Koksa (31), Shanti alias Somari Telami (28), Yamunakka alias Rukhmakka Pendam (60), Ganesh Kowasi (21), Minako alias Jamani Mattami (22), Dhanu Velanje (38), Sunita alias Vange Hoyam (25), Ramesh Madavi (28) and Kishor Vasam (33).
The Naxal movement suffered a major setback last October when Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Bhupathi, along with 61 senior cadres, surrendered to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Gadchiroli, the police noted.
Special Inspector General of Police Sandip Patil appealed to the remaining Maoist cadres to lay down their arms and join mainstream society.