3 Maoists surrender in Vizag Agency

The militia members are Pangi Jaggarao alias Srinu alias Jumadam Srinu (31), Pangi Mugiri alias Vishnu (28), and Vanthala Narayana alias Siddhu (25). All three are from Jumadam village under Pedabayalu mandal located in the Agency area of Visakhapatnam district.

Jumadam Srinu was involved in 12 murders, two ambushes, and four arsons. He had exchanged fire with the security forces on four occasions and planted 22 landmines of which four exploded. He was considered an asset by the LWE for his expertise in making and planting IEDs.

Srinu joined the Maoist movement at the age of 15 and for the last 16 years he had become an expert in handling IEDs. The superintendent of police, Mr. Krishna Rao, said his surrender was a big blow to the already-hit Maoist movement in the Pedabayalu region.

It was Jumadam Srinu who had manufactured and planted the landmine that killed two innocent tribals in Chintalaveedhi under Pedabayalu mandal in the first week of August last year. This was another reason that made him change his mind about the movement.

Meanwhile, Pangi Mugiri alias Vishnu was involved in two landmine blasts, one landmine planting, an ambush, and a praja court, and Vanthala Narayana was involved in two landmine blasts, two landmine planting, and three ambushes.

All the three militia members said they joined the movement at a very young age, motivated by the songs and fiery speeches of the Maoists and was initially grafted into the Maoist party Balala Sangham and Jana Natya Mandali, the cultural wing of the LWE.