22 maoists surrender in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur

At least 22 Maoists, including four carrying a collective bounty of Rs 26 lakh, surrendered before security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Tuesday, police said. This comes a day after 26 Maoists quit the outlawed CPI (Maoist) in Dantewada district. The cadres, including six women, turned themselves in before senior officials from police and CRPF, citing disappointment with the "hollow" and "inhuman" Maoist ideology and growing differences within the outfit, Bijapur SP Jitendra Kumar Yadav said. He said they were also impressed by the state government's 'Niyad Nellanar' (your good village) scheme, aimed at facilitating development works in remote villages around security camps.

He said the development works in interior pockets and villages getting access to basic amenities were also key reasons for the surrender.