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Keonjhar (Orissa), Jan.7 (ANI): Five teenaged Maoist girls have laid down their arms in front of top police officials in Orissa’s Keonjhar District.

They surrendered their arms and ammunition in the presence of Yashwant Jethwa, the Deputy Inspector General (D.I.G.) of police.

“Today, five Naxalite Maoist cadres, who were active in Kalinganagar divisional committee have surrendered before us. One pistol, one SBML (single barrel muzzle loading) gun and ammunition have also been surrendered by them. They were active since 2008 in armed Naxalite squads and we suspect their involvement in a number of violent incidents,” Jethwa said.

He also described the Orissa government’s rehabilitation policy set up to integrate them into the mainstream.

“The Orissa government has come with a rehabilitation policy, which is a detailed policy. As per the policy framework, the necessary steps are being taken. We are trying to rehabilitate them, provide them with occupational assistance, trying to also provide them with trading (vocation), which will make them occupationally active and lead a normal life,” added Jethwa.

Shanti Soy, one of the Maoists who surrendered, was also known to be closest to the secretary of one of the Maoist outfits.

She admitted her involvement in many attacks in the state.

“I have been involved with the Maoist group from the age of 12 in 2008. I was trained there to hold the gun and we’re also trained to run and attack. They then sent us to the field to fight our battles. I was involved in the attacks of Bansapal, Pallaspal, Daitary burn case and Telkoi attack,” she said.

According to reports, the Maoist girls were frustrated by harassment by their seniors and surrendered.

The Maoists have spread into rural pockets of 20 of India’s 28 states.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has termed the Maoists as India’s gravest internal security threat.

Initially, the Maoists contended they are fighting for the cause of poor and weaker sections of the society whereas over the past two decades, they have turned extremely violent, not hesitating in killing civilians, on the pretext they are police informers. (ANI)