25 Maoists surrender in Vizag

'Sadbhavana Yatra' yielding results, say cops Visakhapatnam: Around 25 militia members, including one commander and two deputy commanders of Korukonda Dalam of Maoists, surrendered before the police under the 'Sadbhavana Yatra' (campaign for surrender) in rural SP office on Monday. Deputy Inspector General of Police, Visakha Range, Swati Lakra, said the militia members had surrendered following a call by rural Superintendent of Police G Srinivas and Officer on Special Duty (Operations) AR Damodhar, who recently visited Maoist-infested areas of Balapam, Korukonda, Eguva Valasapalle and few other villages under Chintapalle police station limits as part of 'Sadbhavana Yatra'. The idea was to prevail upon the kith and kin of underground cadres and militia members of the Maoists' party to make their family members to come out the party and lead a normal and peaceful life. Ms Swati Lakra said that the surrendered militia members belong to Balapam, Korukonda and Balarevula villages and they were involved several incidents, including blast of Vangasara Coffee Board building, laying traps to kill police personnel involved in combing operations, axing of tress trees and laying them across roads during Maoists' bandh call, abduction of RDO, Paderu, KRP Prasada Rao, in 2011, and selling coffee seeds collected from APFDC plantations. She said immediate relief of Rs 5,000 would be given to each member as part of rehabilitation measures. Superintendent of Police G Srinivas said they had been visiting the Maoist-dominated area in the Agency to create awareness among the family members of underground cadres and militia members about the rehabilitation facilities being provided by the government to the surrendered members. He said police visited remote villages in the Agency and took stock of the problems in the areas, which include roads and drinking water, to bring it to the notice of the district administration for immediate attention. Some of the surrendered, V Chanti, GA Dora and B Ramana, said they were vexed with the acts and outdated principles of Maoists and hence decided to surrender.