Woman Naxal with 17 lakh bounty in 3 states surrenders

Raipur: A hardened woman Maoist, carrying a cash reward of Rs 17 lakh, has surrendered before police in Chhattisgarh's Khairagarh–Chhuikhadan–Gandai (KCG) district on Thursday.

Kamla Sori had been active in Marh division under the Bastar MMC (Madhya Pradesh–Maharashtra–Chhattisgarh) zone since the time she joined the outfit in 2011, KCG SP Lakshya Sharma told TOI.

She played an instrumental role in several violent incidents and helped plan attacks on security forces during her 14-year association, the official said. A native of Aarlampalli village, Dornapal area in Sukma district, she was operating across the hilly trijunction of Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra (Gondia district) and Madhya Pradesh.

Police from all three states had collectively announced a Rs 17 lakh reward for her capture. According to officials, Sori's surrender is a direct result of the govt's development-oriented approach and the security forces' consistent outreach in remote tribal areas. "It is also driven by the availability of water and electricity networks and public outreach and dialogue programmes under community policing," he said.

Following her surrender, Kamla Sori was granted an immediate incentive of Rs 50,000 under the state's anti-Maoist surrender scheme.

Over 300 Maoists surrendered in the state last month, while senior Naxalite Bhupathi and 60 other cadres laid down their arms in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district.