The Bastar police on Thursday claimed that around “1,500 villagers” from the Chintalnar area of Sukma district “arranged” the surrender of 70 alleged Maoists in the “biggest event of Maoist surrender till date.”

“Seventy Maoists surrendered before the police at the Chintalnar police camp in Sukma in the presence of Bastar Inspector-General of Police S.R.P. Kalluri,” said a statement issued by the Sukma district police.

“Around 150 Maoist supporters from the Chintalnar area had expressed their wish to surrender, of them 70 were found to be associated with the Maoists. These 70 surrendered on Thursday,” Mr. Kalluri told reporters in Chintalnar.

Sukma Additional Superintendent of Police Santosh Singh said most of the surrendered Maoists were not “big Maoist cadres.”

“But they are working or have worked in the Maoist organisation. Many of them have no offence registered against them, but we are trying to provide relief to them,” he said. The surrendered Maoists handed over two country made guns, one pipe bomb and some IEDs, said the police statement.

Mr. Singh said 57 “warranty Maoists” were arrested by the security forces from different parts of Sukma district on Thursday.