38 Naxals, including 7 women, surrender in Chhattisgarh

In a major success for security forces, as many as 38 Naxals, including seven women cadres, surrendered in Narayanpur district on Sunday citing "empty" Maoist ideology and "wrong policies".

"Citing frustration with empty Maoist ideology and their wrong policies, the ultras turned themselves in before senior police and Indo-Tibetan Border Police officials at Narayanpur district headquarters," Narayanpur Superintendent of Police, Abhishek Meena said.

Among the cadres was Punaye Bai (40), who was active as the head of Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisan Majdoor Sanghthan in the region and was carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakh on her head, he said.

Most of the surrendered Naxals are lower rung ultras allegedly involved in murder, loot and attacks on police.

"In their statement, the ultras said they decided to quit the movement due to growing pressure on Naxals from security personnel, wrong policies and empty ideology of the Maoists," the SP said, adding they were also impressed with the provisions of the surrender policy of the state government.