JOIN USA naxal couple, one of them carrying a reward on his head, surrendered today after they were allegedly forced to undergo sterilisation by their leaders in insurgency-hit Rajnandgaon district of Chhattisgarh.
Sandeep alias Mahendra Kerame (26), an active member of military platoon No. 56 of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) and his wife Sheela alias Lata Gota have expressed their desire to join mainstream and surrendered, Rajnandgaon Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Shukla said.
A native of Rajnandagon district, Sandeep was associated with movement in Gadchiroli region of Maharashtra where he was living along with his relatives in 2011.
Subsequently, he was deputed as the gunman of an area committee secretary Pahad Singh in North Gadchiroli Gondia Division (bordering Chhattisgarh), the SP said.
Later he was elevated as a member of military platoon No. 56, largely active in Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border.
Similarly Sheela, a native of Gyarahpatti village in Gadchiroli joined the banned outfit in 2011 and was inducted into military platoon 56 in the same year, he said. While working in the same wing of the banned outfit, the duo fell in love and eventually married early this year with the permission of their senior cadres.
However, when they decided to have children, the senior cadres objected and forced them to undergo sterilisation, following which they quit the organisation, the SP said.
Besides, the increasing pressure of security forces in the region was another reason to surrender according to them, the SP said.
They fled from a naxal camp in Konde village forests of Maharashtra on May 18 and surrendered before Rajnandgaon police, he said.
The male cadre was carrying a reward of Rs 20,000 on his head. They will be given assistance as per Rehabilitation Policy of Chhattisgarh government, the SP said.