Two Maoists Surrendered in Visakhapatnam

VISAKHAPATNAM: Two Maoists who quit the party a few months ago and were in hiding, surrendered to the Visakhapatnam rural police here on Friday. The Maoists reportedly joined the mainstream due to heath issues and other personal problems. Among the surrendered Maoists, dalam commander Gemeli Bandho alias Kamala (26) who is a native of Tumulova village of Koyyuru mandal, was carrying a reward of about Rs 4 lakh on her. Dalam member Vanthala Salu alias Balayya (19) was a native of Chukkagoyya village in GK Veedhi mandal and was carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakh on him.

Speaking to mediapersons here Friday, superintendent of police (Visakhapatnam rural) Koya Praveen said that Gemeli Bandho joined the extremist party's Galikonda area committee in 2007 as an armed militia member. She went on to become the area committee member and dalam commander in the forests of Koraput in 2010. Police said that the woman was involved in exchange of fire with the police at Koraput and Narayanapatnam, apart from the murder of two villagers of Golluru in the name of informers. Meanwhile, Vanthala Salu has joined the Galikonda area committee as armed militia member in 2014, and became an important member of the committee. However the duo quit the Maoist party due to severe health issues about three-four months back, and surrendered themselves before the police.