2 women Maoists carrying Rs.1L reward on their heads surrender in Vizag

The two Maoists have been identified as Thambelu Seetha alias Nirmala (25) and Pangi Lachi alias Shailu (20).

The police said that Seetha's father died when she was young and she lived in poverty working as a village laborer. She decided to join the outfit due to her resentment towards her family members, poverty, and the ridicule she faced from the villagers because she was not married. She went to Kondrum village and joined the outfit in 2018 at the instigation of Maoists Sudheer, Ashok, and Srikanth of Pedabayalu Dalam. She first served as a militia for six months and then was promoted as a party member. She was serving in the Pedabayalu Dalam since then.

Seetha was an important member of the Pedabayalu Dalam. Since she belongs to the local Kondu tribe, she had good command over the remote villages, the police said. She participated in the recent blast that occurred between Chinthalaveedhi and Jumadam villages and killed two cattle shepherds. She played a key role in the murder of Bhaskarrao and Sathibabu of Veeravaram village under Chinthapalle mandal. She was involved in nine major offences, including two murders, two landmine explosions, and kidnapping.

The police also said that Maoists Sudheer, Bhavani, Swetha, Swarna, and some others used to visit Lachi's village Thadidavulu under Chintapalle mandal and held meetings there. Lachi was lured by their songs and speeches and with the instigation of Maoists Sudheer, Swetha, and Swarna, she joined the outfit in 2017. Initially, she joined as a militia member and after six months she was promoted as a party member.

Lachi was an important member in the Pedabayalu Dalam and played a key role in the escape of senior Maoist cadres in the recent exchange of fires at Pebbampalle on 21 July and Teegalametta on 16 June. She took part in the murders of Gemmeli Bhaskar Rao and Pangi Sathibabu of Veeravaram village and Kolakani Suryam and Mukkala Kishore of Maddigaruvu village in Vizag Agency.

Seetha and Lachi surrendered due to ill health, their inability to cope up with tough terrains, the high-handed behaviour of the senor cadres, and lack of concern towards tribal cadres, the police added.