Chhattisgarh, Dec 4: As many as 16 Most Wanted Maoists surrendered before Chhattisgarh police in insurgency-hit Dantewada district on Saturday.

The hard-core cadres turned themselves in before police officials in Dantewada, being fascinated by the police’s rehabilitation drive namely ‘Lon Varratu’, Dantewada Superintendent of Police(SP), Abhishek Pallava said.

Of the 16 surrendered Maoists, militia member Joga Kunjam (26) was allegedly involved in several Maoist incidents, including an attack on security personnel of the Dantewada district.

Earlier in last June, as many as 475 Maoists, including 119 who carried rewards on their heads, have quit the violence in the district under the Lon Varratu which means ‘Home Coming” campaign of police.

The Maoists will be rehabilitated as per the state government’s norms and special initiatives, Pallava said.