Balrampur, Sept. 26 -- Former Naxal commander Sitaram Sonwani, who surrendered before Balrampur Police in February 2021, is now living with his family in a pucca house constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana as part of the government's rehabilitation efforts.

Sonwani, who said he was associated with the Naxal organisation from 1998 to 2005, had earlier moved to Assam with his wife after leaving the organisation. He later returned to his native place during the COVID-19 pandemic and decided to surrender.

"I was a Naxal commander before, from 1998 to 2005. After that, my wife Virajo got me to leave the Naxals. Through her, I left the Naxals, and after leaving, we went and settled in Assam," Sonwani said.

He said that during the ...