India, June 2 -- Sixteen Maoists who had a collective bounty of Rs.25 lakh surrendered in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, police said on Monday.

Sukma superintendent of police (SP) Kiran G Chavan said nine of the 16 Maoists who surrendered were from Kerlapenda village panchayat under Chintalanar police station limits.

With their surrender, the village has become free of Maoists and will receive Rs.1 crore for development funds under a new scheme of the state government, Chavan said.

The district police chief said the surrenders come in the wake of the state police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) intensifying operations against the Maoists in the region.

"These 16 naxals had a combined bounty of Rs.25 lakh on them. Among the...