As many as 63 alleged Maoists surrendered before the police in Narayanpur district in Bastar region of Chhattisgarh on Wednesday, Chhattisgarh police claimed.

According to Narayanpur district Superintendent of Police (SP) Amit Kamble, 63 “Maoists,” including 3 women, left the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist) on Wednesday and surrendered before the police.

“Thirty three of them have warrants against them for heinous crimes. Rest of them were part of different organizations of the CPI (Maoist) like Chetna Natya Manch(CNM) and other wings,” Mr.Kamble told The Hindu.

A senior police officer posted in Bastar , however, revealed that many of the “Maoists” who surrendered on Wednesday were in touch with the police “over the last few months”.

“Many of them had established contact with us and offered to surrender. But we wanted their help in getting some intelligence about the Maoists so we asked them to continue working with the Maoists. When the risk increased for them in the CPI (Maoist), we decided not to endanger their lives and made them surrender publicly,” informed the officer requesting anonymity.

On the rehabilitation of the surrendered ultras, the SP said that they would be given various training courses.

“If some of them want to start small business, we will help them with basics. We can also provide them financial assistance through Self Help Groups. A tract of land has already been identified in Narayanpur for the settlement of surrendered Maoists,” added Mr.Kamble.

Police also claimed that the surrendered Maoists belonged to Temarugaon, Cherang, Netanar, Korenda and Matala villages of Narayanpur.

All of them were involved in different crimes such as murder, attempt to murder, arson, damaging roads, explosions and attacks on police teams, alleged the police.

On whether the surrendered Maoists can go back to their villages, another officer said it would depend on the situation in their villages.

“We will observe the situation for a few days. Some of them may want to go back. But considering their huge number this time, it would be difficult for the Maoists to target them even if they go back,” revealed the officer on the condition of anonymity.

The Maoist insurgency hit Bastar region of Chhattisgarh has witnessed a spate of Maoists's surrenders in last 6 months.

Police claim that "disillusionment" with the Maoist ideology and "excessive" Maoist violence is resulting in surrenders whereas the Maoists have claimed that "former Maoists and commons villagers" are being "pressurized " and being asked to pose as "Maoists" before surrender.