Eleven naxals lay down arms in Andhra Pradesh

VISAKHAPATNAM: Eleven Maoists, including two members of the Pedabayalu Dalam, surrendered before Visakha Rural SP Koya Praveen here on Monday. Among those who surrendered, Pangi Chinna Rao (20) and Gemmeli Malleswara Rao (28) allegedly worked as members of the Pedabayalu Dalam for a year after serving as militia members for almost five years.
According to Visakha Rural SP, all those who surrendered were involved in murdering Bacchala Balakrishna at Killamkota in G Madugula mandal last year and attacking an ashram at Gudalamveedhi in the same mandal.All the surrendered Maoists belong to Pootikametta, Royyalagedda and Gandipalli villages in Boitili panchayat of G Madugula mandal, which is one of strongest areas of the Reds.
The SP said that Chinna Rao and Malleswara Rao claimed that they were forced to work as members of the Dalam as Maoists told them that cops would arrest them and slap cases against them. Malleswara Rao told media persons that they stayed away from their families due to the fear of cops as they were already involved in many Maoist attacks. However, interaction between the cops and their village leaders had given them a chance to surrender before the police. Malleswara Rao said he and Chinna Rao were given a country-made weapon while working as part of the Dalam.
Koya Praveen said that around 20 people, including Dalam members of the Boitili area, had surrendered before Visakha Range DIG A Ravichandra a month ago and the cops had not registered any cases against them. This move had infused confidence among the other militia and Dalam members to do the same. He said the cops would continue with this policy and try to provide better living conditions to those who had surrendered.
The other surrendered militia members are Gemmeli Subba Rao (60), Taalabu Chinnayya Padal (27), Taalabu Rambabu (20), Gemmeli Chinnayya (20), Gemmeli Sanyasi (25), Sirima Srinu (28), Butari Appa Rao (45), Sirima Raja Rao (29) and Korra Paul (20). Anti-naxal operations OSD Vishal Gunni, Paderu ASP Attada Babujee and CRPF deputy commandent NS Yadav were also present at the press meet.