Eleven Naxals, including senior cadre Anant alias Vinod Sayyana, surrendered before police in Maharashtra’s Gondia district on Friday, marking a significant setback for the CPI (Maoist) network in the region. The group carried a combined reward of ₹89 lakh on their heads.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Ankit Goyal (Gadchiroli Range) said the surrendered cadres were part of the Darekasa Dalam, considered the most active Maoist unit in the MMC Zone (Maharashtra–Madhya Pradesh–Chhattisgarh).
“With this surrender, a majority of the outlaws from the Dalam have come forward to join the mainstream,” he said at a press conference.
Those who surrendered included Vinod Sayyana (40) of Telangana’s Karimnagar district — carrying a ₹25 lakh bounty — along with Pandu Pusu Wadde (35), Rani alias Rame Yesu Narote (30), Santu alias Tijauram Dharamsahay Poretti (35), Shevanti Raisingh Pandre (32), Kashiram Rajya Bantula (62), Nakke Suklu Kara (55), Sannu Mudiyam (27), Sadu Pulai Sotti (30), Sheila Chamru Madavi (40) and Ritu Bhima Dodi (20).
Officials said Vinod Sayyana surrendered with an AK-47 rifle, signalling a major boost to the state’s anti-Naxal operations.
