Gadchiroli (Maharashtra), July 11 (IANS): Nine dreaded Maoists surrendered along with arms and ammunition to police here this week, an official said on Saturday.

They include two married couples - Pradeep Kujur, the "section commander of company No. 4" and his wife Sindhu Gota and "Platoon B" member Roshan Padda and his wife Sukki Korami - an official spokesperson said.

Kujur carried a reward of Rs.8 lakh on his head and the rest eight a total of Rs.22 lakh.

According to police, as per the rules among the various 'dalams' (platoons) of the Maoists, married couples are not permitted to live together and the husband has to undergo sterilization after marriage.

This creates huge resentment among married couples who serve the Maoist insurgency, police added.

After the surrender, police will arrange to carry out a reverse sterilization operation, and provide them with land or job opportunities and other benefits as part of the rehabilitation package.

Those who surrendered are in their twenties and early thirties and have been involved in serious Maoist terror activities since the past few years.

The others include Akash alias Sainu Malu Kovase, 28, of "Platoon 14", Subhash alias Vinu Chukku Podali, 27, Rupesh alias Kulle Rama Gota, Durgesh Chaitu Vadde, and Kanhu alias Rama Yesu Pada - all members of Kasansoor Dalam.

Top police officials said that with this surrender, the first and biggest in 2015, has dealt a severe blow to the Maoist terror in eastern Maharashtra.