A Maoist couple that collectively carried rewards of Rs 12 lakh on their heads laid down arms and surrendered to the police in Gadchiroli district, citing disillusion in their rank and file. 

Kolu, alias Vikas, alias Sukant Vinod Pada, 27, and Raje, alias, Debo Jairam Usendi, 30, chose to join the mainstream under the state government’s Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation Policy, said the police. More rebels like Kolu and Raje are willing to shun the life of violence, they said.