Woman Maoist leader with Rs 11 lakh bounty surrenders in Gadchiroli

In her confession, she revealed that senior Maoists instructed them to collect money for the Leftist movement and the development of tribals, but the money was spent on personal gratification.

She reportedly told the police that senior Maoist leaders also did not pay attention to the medical problems of party members.

Veladi, the Gadchiroli police said, was recruited as a member in August 2009. She was posted at Farsegadh LOS (local organisation squad) where she worked till 2010. She was subsequently transferred to the Orchha LOS in 2010 where she worked till 2013.

“In 2013, she was promoted to Area Committee Member (ACM) rank and posted with the National Park Area doctor team and she worked there until 2015. She was sent to Sandra LOS in 2015 and worked there till date,” said a senior police official.

The police said the surrendered Maoist was involved in an encounter in the forest area of Gundam in 2015.

In 2017, she was involved in an ambush-cum-encounter on the Bejji to Yerraguntla road in which 12 jawans were martyred.

In the following two years, she was again involved in an encounter in the forest areas of Marewada and Boramajji.

Due to her role in the attacks, the Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh governments declared a bounty of Rs 6 lakh and 5 lakh, respectively, on her.

The surrendered woman Maoist had married a fellow Maoist worker from her own group (Dalam) but could not live an independent married life.

“Her fellow tribal workers were killed based solely on suspicion of being police informers. During encounters, male Maoists often ran away, leaving their women comrades behind and so they often got killed,” said a police source.

However, the officials said Veladi will receive Rs 4.50 lakh reward declared by the Centre and the Maharashtra government under Maoist rehabilitation schemes.

“Due to the intensified anti-Maoist operations conducted by the Gadchiroli police and the golden opportunity provided by the government for Maoists to surrender and lead a respectful life, 13 hardcore Maoists have surrendered before the Gadchiroli police between 2022 and 2023,” said superintendent of Gadchiroli police Neelotpal.

Officials said 586 Maoists surrendered before the Gadchiroli police attracted by the ‘Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation Policy’ implemented by the Maharashtra government.