In Chhattisgarh, a total of 18 Maoists, including a top leader of the Maoist organisation, Papa Rao, surrendered today. Among those who laid down arms, seven are women. Papa Rao was a member of the State Zonal Committee of the Maoist organisation and carried a reward of 25 lakh rupees on his head. The Maoists surrendered before senior officials of the police and Central Armed Police Forces in a programme organised at Jagdalpur, the divisional headquarters of the Bastar region. During the surrender, they also handed over several weapons, including eight AK-47 rifles, one self-loading rifle and one barrel grenade launcher, along with other arms.