Last Standing Maoist Commander Papa Rao Surrenders with 17 Cadres in Chhattisgarh
Only a few remaining names linked to Chhattisgarh are currently active in Gadchiroli in Maharashtra or Telangana. Efforts are also underway there to facilitate their surrender: Minister
Raipur: In a ‘final blow’ to the four-decade-old Leftwing Extremism in Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, ‘last standing Maoist commander’ Papa Rao alias Mangu (56) on Tuesday surrendered along with 17 Naxal cadres.
Papa Rao along with 17 other Naxals reached Kutru police station in Bijapur district in south Bastar on Tuesday afternoon to surrender.
Later, they boarded a bus, arranged by the police, for Jagdalpur, headquarters of Bastar, where they formally surrendered.
“The surrender of Dandakaranya Zonal Committee (DKSZC) member and South Sub-Zonal Bureau in-charge Papa Rao, along with 17 Naxal other cadres, marks a decisive breakthrough in our sustained efforts to bring an end to Leftwing Extremism in the region”, Bastar range inspector general of police P Sunderraj said.
The 18 surrendered Maoists also included two divisional committee members (DVCMs), Prakash Madvi and Anil Tatti.
Of them seven are female cadres.
The surrendered Naxals handed over AK 47 rifles and other graded weapons, police said.
“Papa Rao was the last Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKZSC) member active in Chhattisgarh”, Chhattisgarh deputy chief minister Vijay Sharma said.
“For the first time in the history of Maoist movement in Dandakaranya, the Naxal outfit has effectively become leaderless”, Mr. Sunderraj said.
A senior police officer disclosed to this newspaper on condition of anonymity that Papa Rao along with 17 other Naxal cadres came out of their undisclosed hideout in the jungle late on Monday evening and walked in the forest to reach Kutru on Tuesday afternoon to surrender.
Papa Rao, whose original name is Sunam Chandraya, hails from Sukma district in south Bastar.
He was allegedly involved in a number of major attacks against security forces in the last two and half decades including the April 2010 Tadmetla ambush on the CRPF personnel in which 76 jawans were killed.
He had been active in the Indravati National Park area in Bijapur district in south Bastar.
According to Mr. Sharma, Papa Rao carried a bounty of Rs 25 lakh in Chhattisgarh.
Mr. Sharma said that no Naxal leader above the rank of area committee member (ACM) is now active in Bastar, after Papa Rao’s surrender.
“Chhattisgarh is now left with no armed Naxal leaders after the surrender of Papa Rao. After his surrender, Chhattisgarh is now Naxal-free”, he said.
