There is a drop in naxal-related crime as well their activities over a period due to cadre shortage and increase in the number naxal arrests as well as surrenders, Additional Director General of Police, Anti-Naxalites Operation (ANO), says Pankaj Gupta.

The arrest of Saroj Akka, wife of a Central committee member Lanka Papi Reddy in November 2008 was the biggest achievement of the police last year.

Reddy surrendered before Andhra Police sometime back. Similarly, the surrender of a Dalam commander Suresh Maitu Harami in October 2008, before Gadchiroli police also boosted the anti-naxal movement, he said.

Also, major heads in naxal related crime including blasts, attack on policemen and civilians, arson, kidnapping, dacoity and robberies, sabotages and other offences have shown a downword trend since last four years, Gupta said.

According to statistics, only 85 such offences were recorded last year against 114 in year 2007, 128 in year 2006 and 134 in the year 2005, he said.

Besides, the number of encounters with naxals was 24 in 2008 dropping from 34 and 40 in 2007 and 2006 respectively against 24 in 2005, he added.

But the surrender policy which the Maharashtra government has extended from time to time to allow more cadres to join the main stream still continues to attaract naxals who want to live in peace, Gupta said.

About 320 naxalites have surrendered since August 29, 2005 when the state government came out with a Naxal Surrender Policy, the police official said.

Also, a record number of 145 naxals have laid down arms during last year against 93 in 2005, 67 in following year and 39 in 2007, he said.

As per the surrender scheme, the state government extended financial assistence to the tune of Rs. 1,63,40,305 crores to them depending on their rank in the naxal outfit.

Speaking on the crime scenario, Gupta said police succeeded in killing as many as 41 naxals between 2005 to 2008 including a highest number of 22 in year 2006 and 11 last year.

The figures of naxals arrest in year 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 (302, 93, 138 and 123) are impressive ones looking to the stiff resistance and indiscriminate use of firearms by them, he said.

Six policemen were killed last year in 2008 against 25 in 2005. Four cops in 2006 and three in following year lost life during encounters with them, he added.

Gupta, however admitted rise in government property loss of Rs 56,81,377 last year against Rs 49,87,030 in 2007. Property loss of private sector jumped almost three fold to Rs 1,29,26,130 from Rs 47,80,150 in a span of two year 2007-2008.

After the surrender of naxals before the committee headed by District Collector, a report is sent to state government which allocated the financial assistance to them.