Bhubaneswar: In a major setback for Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) in Odisha, Sukru, the lone Maoist leader from the state, surrendered before the police along with four associates and an AK-47 rifle in Kandhamal district on Tuesday.
The development comes amid an intensified security operation aimed at apprehending Sukru, who was leading a small group of around 13 cadres and operating in the tri-junction of Kandhamal, Kalahandi, and Rayagada districts. The drive to dismantle the remaining Maoist network in the state gained fresh momentum on Monday when joint teams of the Special Operations Group (SOG), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), District Voluntary Force (DVF), and Border Security Force (BSF) launched coordinated searches in the difficult terrain, following the appearance of Maoist posters in the area.
A native of Malkangiri district, Sukru carried a reward of ₹55 lakh on his head as a state committee member of the Communist Party of India (Maoist).
The recent neutralization of his deputy platoon commander Jagesh and party member Ratna in an encounter with security forces last month in the Nandabali Reserved Forest had dealt a significant blow to the Maoist outfit. Reports suggest that Sukru, who had earlier killed a fellow cadre, Anwesh alias Renu, and buried his body in a Kandhamal forest to prevent him from surrendering, was himself contemplating laying down arms. However, he reportedly faced stiff resistance from a faction within the CPI (Maoist), largely comprising his junior associates.
His surrender assumes significance with the March 31 deadline for elimination of LWE drawing closer.
On Monday, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi informed the Assembly that the number of active Maoists in Odisha has declined from 40 to 15 within a month. He further stated that only Kandhamal district is currently classified as LWE-affected. Eight other districts — Boudh, Balangir, Kalahandi, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Nuapada and Rayagada — are listed as legacy and thrust (L&T) districts.
A total of 96 Maoists and militia members have surrendered in Odisha over the past two years, he added.
