Naxal couple surrenders before police in C'garh

A naxal couple, carrying cash rewards on their heads, surrendered before Chhattisgarh's Special Intelligence Branch (SIB) here today, an official said.

The cadres, identified as Ravi alias Sanna (30) and his wife Madvi Budhri alias Reena (28), who hailed from Sukma district, turned themselves in before the SIB here, state Special Director General (anti-naxal operation) D M Awasthi said in a press conference here.

The surrendered couple was part of the Maoist team that had abducted in 2012 the then Sukma Collector and IAS officer Alex Paul Menon, he said.

Besides, they were also involved in various crimes, including attack on police team, loot of weapons after killing police personnel, murder of villagers by branding them as police informers and planting bombs, he said adding that they were carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh each on their heads.

Talking to reporters, Ravi said he and his wife were disappointed with the violence committed by the naxals and they no more wanted to support them.

"After they became parents of two children, they decided to lead a normal life so that the kids can get better education and live in a peaceful environment," he said.

Besides, they were also impressed by the surrender and rehabilitation policy of the state government and wanted to see development in their area, he added.

Ravi, who was associated with the naxal movement since 2008, was currently active as Kerlapal LGS commander in Sukma, Awasthi said.

Reena, who was working as the head of Krantikari Adivasi Mahila Sangh (KAMS) under Kerlapal area committee of Maoists, had left the banned movement after she became pregnant in 2016.

"However, she decided to formally surrender before police along with her husband," the SDG added.