10 Korukonda maoists surrender

VISAKHAPATNAM: Ten members of Korukonda group of the banned Communist of Party of India (Maoist) including six armed militia members and two militia members surrendered before Superintendent of Police G Srinivas here on Monday.One of the surrendered Maoists, Bakuri Kumari, a resident of Limachettu village of GK Veedhi mandal in the district, joined the banned outfit in 2010. She was involved in various offences including exchange of fire at Cheruvuru and Odisha. Another active member of the group, Pangi Shoban, a resident of Pedakonda village of GK Veedhi mandal in the district, joined the group in 2009. He was involved in several offences including setting fire to an APSRTS bus, triggering explosion at BSNL cell tower in Lambasingi and a murder case.Pangi Arjun Rao, Pangi Ramanababu, Dippala Prasad, Vantala Appa Rao, Muvvala Sanyasi Rao, Sivaratri Tulasi, Jarta Swami Dora and Pangi Maleswara Rao were other surrendered members.  Speaking to newsmen, Kumari and Shoban said they joined the group as they were attracted by its revolutionary poetry but the leaders in the Korukonda Dalam harassed them.Kumari said majority of Maoist leaders do not bother about welfare of the cadres and did not provide even medicines to active members. Vexed with violent acts and outdated principles of Maoists, she decided to surrender before the police.SP Srinivas said even after surrender of a number of Maoists, the outfit was trying to rope in unemployed youths along Andhra-Odisha border. He said police are taking steps to reduce Maoist activities in the region.