Four Maoists surrender on Maharashtra’s golden jubilee

NAGPUR - Four Maoists, including three women, surrendered in Gadchiroli district Saturday on the occasion of Maharashtra’s golden jubilee, an official said.

The Maoists, aged between 16-20, accepted the authority of the state in the presence of Home Minister R.R. Patil at a function in the district headquarters, Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police Jay Kumar said.

“They were not carrying any arms at the time of the surrender,” Kumar told IANS.

Gadchiroli is about 200 km from Nagpur.

Kumar said uder the norms, these Maoists will be under the observation of the security forces for some time before they are allowed to resume their normal lives.

The identity of the Maoists would not be made public to ensure they and their families members are not targeted by other rebels who are still at large in the forested areas of eastern Maharashtra.

On Jan 26, six Maoists surrendered with their arms before Patil, who is the guardian minister for the district that is heavily infested by Maoists.