NEW DELHI: Maoist surrenders have seen a quantum jump this year, with 472 surrenders being reported until October 31 against 283 for the whole of 2013. Of course, Chhattisgarh has single-handedly contributed to this rise, having clocked 247 surrenders by October-end, up from just 28 in 2013.
Incidentally, Chhattisgarh has also reported a major increase in the number of Maoists arrested this year. According to data shared by the Union home ministry in reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, arrests in the state grew from 387 in 2013 to 517 until October 15 this year.
However, the nearly nine-fold rise in surrenders as well as notable rise in arrests is essentially limited to Chhattisgarh. Surrenders in Andhra Pradesh were 76 until October 31 against 82 for whole of last year. Bihar reported 150 Left wing extremism-related incidents and arrested 329 Maoists (until November 15) but managed just 4 surrenders until October 31.
Jharkhand recorded the highest number of incidents at 318, highest number of civilian killings at 77, while Maoists killed were 8 and arrested, 364. The surrenders were a measly 17, almost at the same level of 15 recorded last year.
Odisha has shown incidents at around the same level (97 until November 15 against 101 last year), but surrenders are down at 80 as on October 31 (from 101 in 2013) and Maoists arrests at just half (67) of the 2013 levels (129).
A special session on police response in rural areas of Left-wing extremism-hit states will be conducted during the DGP/IGP meet slated to be held on November 29 and 30 in Guwahati.