Bhubaneswar: In a major move against left wing extremism (LWE), the Odisha Police launched a poster campaign urging Maoists active in Gandhamardan area of Balangir district, to lay down arms and return to the social mainstream.
The posters, now displayed across several places in the region, also announced cash rewards for providing information leading to the arrest of listed cadres.
Titled “Catch Maoists, Get Rewarded”, the initiative has emerged as a significant feature in the anti-Maoist operations in the area. Police have appealed to Maoists to give up the path of violence and come back to the social mainstream. At the same time, the police also sought active cooperation from the public in the drive aimed at eliminating Maoist activities.
The posters list 15 Maoist cadres and specify reward amounts for actionable information regarding their whereabouts. The highest reward — Rs 65 lakh — has been announced for Sudarshan alias Bikash, identified as a Special Zonal Committee Member operating in Nuapada-Balangir-Bargarh Gandhamardan area.
Contact numbers of police have been prominently displayed on the posters. Officials have assured that the identity of informants will be kept strictly confidential.
Notably, Maoist activity in the region is stated to have been significantly declined. Security agencies estimate that the remaining cadres are operating in small groups of four to five members, with an overall strength of around 14 to 15 individuals.
