Surrender is only option for Naxals, says Maharashtra DGP

In a stern warning a day after 16 ultras were killed in a major operation in Gadchiroli district, Maharashtra police chief Satish Mathur today said that surrender was the only option for Naxals.

"We request them to avail of government's surrender and rehabilitation scheme. Surrender is the only way out and it will be beneficial to the society at large. Shun the language of armed confrontation and war, and join the democratic path," he said at a press conference here.

As many as 605 Naxals have surrendered in the state in the last five years, and over Rs 7 crore have been spent for their rehabilitation, Mathur said.

About yesterday's encounter, the DGP said police were getting excellent intelligence about the rebels' movements.

"These days, we are getting pin-pointed and specific information about the Naxals. It also shows a division in their ranks and the success of this operation shows that they are demoralised," he said.

Out of the 16 Naxals killed in the encounter, bodies of 11 have been identified and it includes two members of their divisional committee, Mathur said.

He said one of those killed was Sainath, a prominent Naxal leader who was behind the torching of 75 trucks carrying iron ore at Surjagarh in Gadchiroli district in December 2016.

Sainath had 75 cases registered against him and was carrying a reward of Rs 18 lakh on his head, the DGP said, adding the Naxals operating in Maharashtra did not have any major success in the recent past.

Asked if this particular group of Naxals in Gadchiroli district was out on any mission, Mathur said, "We cannot say anything about their target specifically at this stage. As per our intelligence, they were part of a quick action team for small operations, but they were not successful in those."