16 January 2019•Update: 16 January 2019
By Ekrem Payan and Mesut Varol
SIRNAK / VAN, Turkey
A so-called senior member of the PKK terrorist organization with a bounty of 300,000 Turkish liras ($55,311) on his head surrendered to security forces in Turkey's eastern province of Sirnak, the governorship said on Wednesday.
Ridvan Ertas, whose name was in the grey category of the Interior Ministry's wanted list, surrendered at Habur border gate on the Turkish-Iraqi border, the governorship statement said.
The wanted list is divided into five color-coded categories, with red as the most wanted, followed by blue, green, orange and grey.
Ertas, 24, joined the terror group from southeastern Diyarbakir province, the sources added.
Turkish security forces also arrested 20 PKK/KCK suspects as part of simultaneous anti-terror operations in the eastern Van province, the provincial Gendarmerie Command said Wednesday.
The suspects are also accused of aiding and abetting the terror group.
In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including women and children.
