Bhubaneswar, April 22: Police are treating the surrender of a female Maoist in Koraput as a sign that the rebels' brigand-like lifestyle has begun to take a toll on them.

Suna Wadeka alias Jivani, 18, a member of the Koraput-Srikakulam area committee of the CPI (Maoist), who carried a reward of Rs 1 lakh on her head, surrendered on Tuesday before the DIG (southwestern range) S. Shyni and Koraput police superintendent Charan Singh Meena.

Jivani told the police that she was fed up with life in the forests and the mindless violence indulged in by the Maoists.

Shyni said Jivani, who had been associated with the Maoist movement since 2011 and acted as the bodyguard of C. Narayan Rao alias Suresh, the commander of the Koraput-Srikakulam area committee of the CPI (Maoist), also alleged that the party's senior cadres from neighbouring Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh had inflicted torture upon her.

She said they never respected her. She also said they made her do menial work such as carrying luggage.

The DIG said Jivani had been involved in around 10 incidents of Maoist violence, including the landmine blast at Ralegada in Koraput district in August, 2013 in which four BSF jawans were killed.

On March 28 last year, another Maoist, Puwala Acchama alias Laxmi, surrendered in Koraput.

She carried a reward of Rs 4 lakh on her head. Hailing from Vizianagaram district in Andhra Pradesh, she used to operate in the Narayanpatna area of Koraput. In May 2015, three Maoists, each carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakh on their heads, had laid down arms in Koraput district.

Shyni said the rebels had been facing problems of shrinking resources, including food.

"Their support base, too, is shrinking. Besides, life in the forests is tough," she said.

Meena said the surrenders had boosted the morale of the police force engaged in a prolonged battle with the rebels. "We expect more surrenders in the coming days," he said.