India, Jan. 23 -- Nine Maoists carrying a cumulative reward of Rs.47 lakh surrendered before the police in Chhattisgarh's Dhamtari district on Friday, rendering the Raipur police range free of Naxal presence, senior officials said.

Inspector General of Police (Raipur Range) Amresh Mishra said the surrendered cadres laid down arms before senior police officials, citing disillusionment with Maoist ideology, the hardships of life in forests, and the influence of the state government's surrender and rehabilitation policy. However, he added that Maoist influence continues in the Bastar range and parts of Rajnandgaon district, where several cadres are still active.

The surrendered Maoists, including seven women, belonged to the Nagri and Sita...