Vishakapatnam, March 18: Sixteen Maoist militia members surrendered before DIG (Visakha Range) Sowmya Misra who visited the Paderu yesterday. With these, 93 militia members, including some top guns, have surrendered to the police in the last few months.
The 15-member group, led by Butari Rambabu, consisted of Y Ramababu of K Bandaveedi, G Baburao, M Sanyasi Rao of Cheedimetta, B Thrimurtulu, S Matsyalingam, B Rama Rao, T Rajarao, G Satya Rao, I Latchanna, L Gantanna, T Laxmana Rao, T Rama Rao, B Pandanna, T Ananda Rao and Y Balanna all belonging to Kalimkota and Injiri panchayats of Paderu divison.
The DIG told reporters that the militia group was involved in road- digging at Surimetta and attended a Maoist meeting at Porlugunta which was held by Ganesh. Under Ganesh’s instructions the surrendered militia members pasted wall-posters at Maddigaruvu against the government and the police.
They also helped Maoists at the time of the Kilamkota exchange of fire on January 23 last year.
Further, these people had been deputed to gram committees and whenever Maoists visited their villages they arranged shelter for them, supplied food and and provided information on the movements of the police.
Vineet Brijlal said that with the continuous efforts of the police, militia members had been surrendering in large numbers for the past few months.
–Agencies