India, July 29 -- Eight Maoists, including five women, who were active in Jharkhand and carried a cumulative bounty of Rs.49 lakh, surrendered before the Bijapur police on Wednesday, officials said.

The surrendered cadres, all associated with the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), laid down arms under the Chhattisgarh government's surrender and rehabilitation policy. The surrender was facilitated with the support of the Jharkhand Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

Officials also attributed the surrender to the successful rehabilitation of former Maoists and ongoing development works in tribal areas.

Among those who surrendered are Ashwin alias Lachhu (30) carrying a reward of Rs.8 lakh; Ranga alias Sohan (30), w...