Bhubaneswar, Aug. 14: Eight Maoists, including three militia commanders, today surrendered before Malkangiri police, expressing their desire to get back to the society’s mainstream.

Malkangiri superintendent of police Akhileshwar Singh said the surrendered rebels hailed from the “cut-off” area of the district, which remained inaccessible to the security forces for most part of the year.

The rebels, who gave up arms, are Raghu Hantal, Iswar Hantal, Patra Hantal, Sarathi Hantal, Gobi Khillo, Chandra Khora, Trinath Hantal and Gangadhar Khora. Raghu, Iswar and Patra are militia commanders.

The development came on a day when 87 members of the Chasi Muliya Adivasi Sangh, an organisation campaigning against non-tribal landlords, also surrendered before the police at Narayanpatna of Koraput. With today’s surrender, the number of the sangh members, who have decided to abjure violence, has crossed 400.