Former Naxal’s noble gesture.

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Rajulapudi Srinivas
RAJAHMUNDRY: Velusuri Srinivas alias Chinna Vijay, commander of the CPI (Maoist) Andhra Orissa Border (AOB) Zonal Committee east division action team, who joined the mainstream yesterday, said he would spend the Rs 1 lakh reward on his head on development of tribal villages. Speaking to ‘Express’, Vijay, a native of Paderu in Visakhapatnam district, said the Maoist dalams working in agency areas got people’s support. Due to lack of basic amenities and employment in agency areas, more and more tribal youths are joining the extremist movement. Most of dalam members in AOB Zonal Committee are women. However, recruitment in the Maoist dalams came down in recent months, he said. ‘‘I have no idea about Naxalite ideology. But after joining the Naxal movement, I came to know the sufferings of the tribals due to exploitation. I came out of the movement due to ill-health,’’ he said. The former Naxal alleged that the political parties, including Communist parties, were not really concerned about the welfare of tribals. The innocent tribals were being used mere vote banks by the political parties. The people’s representatives were ignoring the welfare of tribals soon after their election, he said. When asked about the reason for blasting Donkarayi power house, a public utility, the surrendered Naxalite said they did it for supplying electricity to neighbouring States ignoring the needs of tribals in the agency areas of East Godavari and Visakhapatnam districts. OSD (Operations) PHD Ramakrishna said Vijay worked for seven years in the dalam and was involved in nine attacks, including killing of police constables at Malkangiri and landmine blasts at Gudlawada and Donkarayi. ‘‘We recommended a Rs 2 lakh reward for him,’’ he said. ‘‘I am an orphan and I will use the amount to be given for my rehabilitation for the development of tribal villages in Paderu division,’’ Vijay added. A police official on condition of anonymity said Vijay provided them good information about the Maoist operations in AOB.