Maoist, served as guard to Azad, surrenders

Kothagudem: A dalam member of banned CPI (Maoist) Bhadradri-Kothagudem East Godavari (BK-EG) division, Podium Santhosh alias Vikram, surrendered before Superintendent of Police Sunil Dutt on Friday.

Revealing the details to the media at a press meet in Kothagudem on Friday, the SP informed that Santhosh (18), hails from Kistarampadu village of Cherla mandal and joined the Maoist party in 2018 as a militia member under guidance of Cherla area militia commander Sodi Jogaiah.

He was trained and promoted as dalam member and has been serving as guard to Maoist Telangana State Committee member and BK-EG secretary Azad. He decided to surrender as he wanted to live a peaceful life, Dutt stated.

"The Maoist party leadership is forcing the innocent tribal minor boys and girls in interior villages to join the party," the SP said, while appealing to all the underground Maoist cadres to give up on their activities.

Those intending to surrender to the police could approach the local police station or the office of Superintendent of Police directly or indirectly through their relatives or known persons, the SP said. Officer on Special Duty A Ramana Reddy and Bhadrachalam ASP Rajesh Chandra were present.