India, July 25 -- As many as 66 Maoists, including 49 carrying a cumulative reward of Rs.2.27 crore, surrendered in five districts of Chhattisgarh's Bastar division on Thursday, police officials said.

Officials said 25 surrendered in Bijapur, 15 in Dantewada, 13 in Kanker, eight in Narayanpur, and five in Sukma; 27 of them were women.

According to the police, the surrendered cadres cited growing disillusion with the Maoist ideology, atrocities committed by the group on innocent tribals, and deepening internal rifts within the banned outfit. Many also said they were inspired by the state government's 'Niyad Nellanar' (Your Good Village) scheme, aimed at development in remote tribal areas, along with the new surrender and rehabilitation p...