Disillusioned with the Maoist ideology, three Naxals from Andhra Pradesh's Kakinada district surrendered to the police on Monday.
The trio, identified as Madivi Jogayya alias Roshan, Kaluma Pojja alias Radha, and Sunnam Nagesh, turned themselves in before East Godavari Superintendent of Police Vishal Gunni, PTI reported.
The PTI report adds that Nagesh allegedly supplied electronic items to members of banned outfits since 2014.
Last week, it was reported that as many as 155 Maoists had been killed by security forces in 2017, after a figure released by the Maoists themselves, before their annual People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) week, which began from December 2.
In October this year, Andhra Pradesh Director-General of Police (DGP) N Sambasiva Rao said that Maoists were losing ground in the state, and assured citizens that the extremism was under control.
“Naxal activities have come down in the state and on its borders. Maoists should tell us what they want from the government. We appeal to them to shun violence and join the mainstream. The police have been doing a commendable job in combating Naxalism. Seventeen Naxal-related incidents were reported on the State’s borders last year. The number was much bigger earlier,” The Hindu quoted the DGP as saying.
“Ganja is being cultivated in about 11 mandals in Visakhapatnam district and Andhra-Odisha Border (AOB), and two mandals in East Godavari district. The police and excise officials are destroying the plantations. We will put an end to ganja smuggling soon,” Rao added, as the smuggling is suspected to aid Maoists financially.
In October, it was reported that senior leaders who were part of the Central Committee (CC) met in February to review the movement's progress, and admitted that things were 'difficult' and passing through a 'setback'.
The politburo is the highest decision making body of the CPI(Maoist) and consists of its most senior leaders.
According to reports, only seven of the 15-member politburo are active, while the remaining are either dead, surrendered or in jail. Similarly, less than 20 of the total 33 CC members were still operating.
With recruitment rates falling and 'veteran comrades' failing in their health, this could be a time of significant change, where the banned outfit may have to change its strategy.