India, Oct. 8 -- Sixteen Maoist cadres gave up arms and surrendered before the police in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district on Wednesday under the state's rehabilitation drive 'Poona Margham: From Rehabilitation to Rejuvenation', officials said.

The surrender took place at the office of Narayanpur superintendent of police, (SP). The total reward on the surrendered cadres, who belonged to the Maad Division, Northern Bureau and Kutul Area, amounted to Rs.38 lakh.

Among those who surrendered were key Maoist functionaries such as Podiya Markam alias Ratan alias Faganu, deputy commander of Military Platoon No. 1; Manoj Dugga alias Sankar alias Bharat, member of Military Company No. 1; Sumitra alias Sunny Kursam and Vanila Farsa, both from th...