Bastar: In a dramatic turn of events in the poll-bound Chhattisgarh, as many as 62 naxals tuned themselves to police in the insurgency-hit Bastar region on Tuesday.

Amid the upcoming elections and recent attacks executed by ultras in Bastar, the surrender of the cadres in such big number is considered as a major success of the ongoing anti-naxal operations in the area, said a senior police officer.

“Impressed by the surrender and rehabilitation policy of Chhattisgarh government, 62 Maoists including 52 with weapons, surrendered before Bastar Range Inspector General of Police (IG) Vivekananda Sinha. In their statement to police, the surrendered naxals termed high handiness and discrimination within the organisation along with the surrender-cum-rehabilitation policy of the state government as a reason for quitting the red movement,” said the officer.

The cadres have surrendered with muzzle-loading-gun, said police sources.

The surrendered naxals were involved in various incidents that took place in the region in past couple of years, including IED blasts, dropping of pamphlets (which reads as boycott elections and development works in the region) and others.

Meanwhile, police officials have eulogised the cadres’ decision to surrender to encourage others to quit the path of violence.

As per the policy of the state government, necessary assistance will be provided to them, said the police.