Warangal: A 62-year-old Maoist, serving as the district committee secretary and in-charge of the agriculture wing for the banned CPI-Maoist party, surrendered to police in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district on Saturday.District superintendent of police Kiran Khare identified the Maoist as Macha Somaiah, also known as Surender or Satish, hailing from Pambapur village in Bhupalpally mandal. Somaiah joined the outlawed Maoist organisation in 1990, encouraged by Gali Agaiah alias Janardhan, the former Mahadevpur area committee secretary. Over the past 32 years, Somaiah operated as an underground cadre, participating in numerous violent incidents across Telangana and Chhattisgarh. Senior CPI-Maoist cadres over 60 years old, like Somaiah, have been increasingly affected by health issues and lack adequate medical care due to intensified anti-extremist operations in Chhattisgarh. Frustrated with the Maoist party’s inability to provide necessary support, Somaiah was motivated by Telangana government’s rehabilitation schemes aimed at helping surrendered cadres lead peaceful lives with their families. “These senior cadres are suffering from health problems and are neglected due to the ongoing anti-extremist measures,” Khare explained. He added that the government’s initiatives offer a viable path for former militants to reintegrate into society. Encouraged by the promise of rehabilitation and the opportunity to secure his health and family’s well-being, Somaiah chose to surrender. Authorities hope his decision will inspire other aging militants to abandon violence and embrace peaceful rehabilitation programmes.
Source link
