303 Naxals who terrorised people with 303s have surrendered in past 75 hours: PM

In his first comprehensive statement on government’s anti-Naxal policy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said Maoist terror-free India was his guarantee to the citizens.

Taking digs at erstwhile Congress governments, which he accused of harbouring urban Naxals, the PM said these Naxals censored news of Naxal violence and atrocities for years.

"Recently a group of people victimised by Maoists came to Delhi. Many of them had been maimed in theattacks but the urban Naxal ecosystem did not give them a voice," Modi said.

In a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who carries a copy of the Constitution with him, Modi said Maoists who had terrorised people all along were even today being protected by the Congress.

"But today 303 Naxals whose 303s (rifles) used to kill people have surrendered in just 75 hours. These are no ordinary Naxals. They carry rewards ranging from Rs 5 lakh to one crore. Today they've laid down arms and embraced the Constitution. This is what happens when a government works with the spirit of the Constitution at heart," Modi said at a private event here.

He said in 2014, when he assumed power, India had 125 Left Wing extremism-affected districts which is now down to 11.

"Day is not far when Naxal-free India will become a reality and this is Modi's guarantee," he said.

His references were to mass surrender by Naxal cadres in Chhattisgarh.