Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Government has fixed rewards, ranging from Rs 20,000 to Rs 12 lakh, on the heads of top Maoists in the state.

The Secretary of CPI (Maoist) Central Committee and its members will carry a reward of Rs 12 lakh each on their heads while the members of the state committee, provincial committee, North Telanagana Special Zone Committee, Dandakaranya Special Zone Committee and Andhra-Orissa Border Zone Committee carry a bounty of Rs 10 lakh each.

The General Administration Department today issued a government order announcing the sanction of the "incentive cash rewards to facilitate early apprehension of underground extremists" in the interests of the secutiry of the state.

As per the order, there are at present 474 underground extremists operating in the state, indicating a sharp decline from 1,133 last year.

The rewards have been fixed as per the category of the underground cadre. The Alternate State Committee Members (ASCM) will carry a reward of Rs 8 lakh each, Regional Committee Mmebers (Rs 6 lakh), Agitation and Propaganda Committee Members, District Forest Divisional Committee Secretary, commanders of military platoon (Rs 5 lakh).

Similarly, District Forest Divisional Committee Member, deputy commander of military platoon, area committee secretary and action team commander carries a reward of Rs 3 lakh.

Source : PTI