Hyderabad: In a major setback to the naxal movement in Andhra Pradesh, 18 ultras of Communist Party of India – Marxist-Leninist (CPI-ML), including two top naxals, three commanders and four deputy commanders, surrendered before Home Minister T Devender Goud on March 8.

The naxals, including five women members, from Warangal, Medak, Adilabad and Visakhapatnam districts surrendered at the Secretariat, Goud told reporters.

Of them, top naxal leader and district committee member Golconda Ramchander alias Rajender (44) carries a reward of Rs 2 lakh, he said. Adipally alias Tirupathi Reddy (30), commander of Narsapur dalam and Ravula Raju alias Shankar (26), deputy commander of Ghanpur station Local Guerrilla Squad (LGS), carried reward of Rs 20,000 each and while Kethapaka Ellesh alias Sanjeev (24), commander of Pandava LGS, carried a reward of Rs 10,000.

Of the five women naxals, Makam Lachi alias Sunitha (27) was a deputy commander of Bairangadh dalam, North Basthar in Chhattisgarh and Thodsam Ethma alias Deepika (25) was a deputy commander of Kotapalli LGS, he said.

Gaud appealed naxals of various group to shun violence and join the mainstream.

"Violence is not a solution," he said, adding that there are a number of forums in a Democratic set-up which could be used to solve the problems.

PTI