Kerlapanda Village Becomes Maoist-Free As 16 Naxals Surrender In Chhattisgarh, Reports

Sixteen Naxalites, including nine cadres from the Kerlapenda village panchayat surrendered in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district on Monday, as reported by PTI. The Maoists turned themselves in to senior police and CRPF officials, six of which had a collective cash reward of Rs 25 lakhs on their head. 

The Naxal-free Kerlapanda village has now become eligible for development projects worth Rs 1 crore as per the state government바카라�s new Elvad Panchayat Yojna. The scheme provided Rs 1 crore worth of development sanctions for those village panchayats that facilitate the surrender of active Naxals in the area and pass a resolution declaring them as Maoist-free.

According to Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan, the Naxals surrendered citing disappointment with the "hollow" and "inhuman" Maoist ideology and atrocities by ultras on local tribals, as reported by PTI. 

The surrendered Naxals praised the 바카라�Niyad Nellanar바카라� (good village) scheme which comes under the new surrender and rehabilitation policy that facilitates development work in remote villages, according to Chavan. 

This is the second village in the panchayat to be declared as Naxal free following Badesatti, where 11 lower-rung Naxalites surrendered before police in April.

According to reports, Rita alias Dodi Sukki (36), a woman who was active as member of the central regional committee (CRC) company number 2 of Maoists, and Rahul Punem (18), a party member within PLGA battalion no. 1 of Maoists, carried a reward of Rs 8 lakh each. Besides, Lekam Lakhma (28) carried a bounty of Rs 3 lakh, while three more cadres carried a reward of Rs 2 lakh each. 

According to the SP, all the Naxalites were provided an assistance of Rs 50,000 each and will further be rehabilitated under the government바카라�s initiative.

With inputs from PTI.