Maoists surrender in Jharkhand

More than thirty-five militant Indian communists belonging to an outlawed oragnisation -- the Maoist Communist Centre or MCC -- have surrendered to the state government in the northern Indian state of Jharkhand.

But, unlike other similar instances, arms were not surrendered this time.

The state government says that this is one of the largest groups of Maoists to have surrendered in the area.

The state's police chief, TP Sinha, said all those who had surrendered had cases pending against them.

Some, he said, were on the most-wanted list.

Officials said those who have surrendered will be given money and land to start a new life.

For over two decades now, Maoists have been waging a violent campaign in ceratin areas of Jharkhand and the neighbouring state of Bihar, for what they say are the rights of the landless and the poor.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service