27-year-old Naxal surrenders in Maharashtra

A 27-year-old Naxal surrendered before the police in Gondia district of Maharashtra Monday, an official said. Jagdish alias Mahesh alias Vijay Agnu Gawde, a native of Korchi in neighbouring Gadchiroli district, turned himself in before Superintendent of Police Vinita Sahu, Additional Collector Ashok Latare and other administration officials.

Addressing a press conference, Sahu said Gawde was an active member of the Korchi Kurkheda Dalam (KKD) and served as a bodyguard of CPI (Maoist) Central Committee member Milind Teltumde till recently. She said the dalam (squad) was active in areas spread over Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Gawde, engaged in Naxal activities since 2012, was involved in many Naxal incidents, including firing at several places.

The SP said Gawde will receive Rs 5 lakh in cash under the government`s Naxal surrender scheme and other benefits like assistance for education, loan for self-employment and financial support for buying land. Speaking to the media, Gawde said soon after joining the armed movement, he wanted to shun the path and go back to normal life.

However, his colleagues and senior Naxals stopped him from doing so and warned of severe consequences if he left them, he said. The surrendered rebel, who has studied till Class 8, expressed disillusionment with the Maoist movement.

"The Naxal movement has lost its real objective of bringing justice to the poor, downtrodden and exploited people. Its senior members have become money-oriented," he said. Explaining the reason for his surrender, Gawde said he wanted to return to mainstream society and lead a peaceful life.