Phulbani: In a major blow to left wing extremists (LWEs) in Odisha, four hardcore Maoists, including three women, surrendered before the police in Kandhamal on Friday along with their weapons and equipment.
Police said the four, who were active cadres of the KKBN (Kalahandi-Kandhamal-Boudh-Nayagarh) Maoist Division, laid down arms, ammunition, explosives, and Maoist literature.
The surrendered Maoists have been identified as Ganga Kunjami alias Jiten (24), Muchaki Mase alias Sumitra (23), Chomali Kunjam alias Shantila (21), and Bandi Madvi alias Malati (22).
While Ganga Kunjami hails from Pandupada village in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh, Muchaki Mase is from Batum village in Sukma, Chomali Kunjam from Me
tapal village in Bijapur district, and Bandi Madvi from Potali village in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh.
They were actively involved in Maoist activities and have multiple criminal cases registered against them in police stations across Odisha and Chhattisgarh, Inspector General of Police (Southern Range), Niti Shekhar told reporters.
While surrendering, the four laid down a large quantity of arms, ammunition and Maoist articles., including one SLR rifle, two .303 rifles, one bore gun, 16 rounds of SLR ammunition, 22 rounds of .303 ammunition, four bore gun cartridges, two wireless sets, aluminium cooking utensils, medicines,
The surrendered Maoists stated that they were unable to withstand sustained combing operations by Odisha Police and were also motivated by the state government’s surrender and rehabilitation policy. Two of the women Maoists, Muchaki and Chomali, appealed through the media to other Maoists to abandon violence and join the mainstream of society.
Niti Shekhar said Boudh district has become completely Maoist-free, while Kandhamal is expected to be naxal-free by the end of March.