DANTEWADA, April 24 -- Eighteen Naxalites, including a Militia Platoon Section Commander and three women, surrendered on Wednesday in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada.

Dantewada Superintendent of Police Gaurav Rai said that among the 18 were Hidma Oyam (34), who was the Hurrepal Panchayat Militia Platoon (HPMP) Section Commander in the outlawed Maoist group.

The three women were Sambati Oyam (23), a Deputy Commander of HPMP, Gangi Madkam (28), vice president of the Kakadi Panchayat Krantikari Mahila Adivasi Sangthan and Hungi Oyam (20), a member of Hurrepal Panchayat.

"The 18 Naxalites laid down arms in front of the police and CRPF officials. They were part of Bhairamgarh and Malanger area committees of the Maoists in south Bastar," Rai said.

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