Bhubaneswar: In a boost for anti-Maoist campaign in Odisha, 15 cadres of the Balangir-Bargarh-Mahasamund (BBM) division of the banned CPI (Maoist) surrendered before police in Mahasamund district of neighbouring Chhattisgarh on Saturday night.
The BBM division is active along the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border.
This came amid a massive ongoing operation in Odisha’s Kandhamal forests to hunt down the state’s lone Maoist leader Sukru (49), who allegedly killed a fellow cadre to stop him from surrendering. Beyond Kandhamal, security forces had also been focusing on Gandhamardan hills in Balangir and Bargarh districts, where about 10 Maoists led by area committee member Sudarshan (64), alias Bikash, a native of Telangana, were suspected to be active.
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A poster campaign “Catch Maoists, Get Rewarded” was also launched while urging Maoists active in Gandhamardan area of Balangir district, to lay down arms and return to
the social mainstream. The posters listed 15 Maoist cadres and specified reward amounts for actionable information regarding their whereabouts. The highest reward — Rs 65 lakh — was announced for Bikash.
Also Read: Odisha Intensifies Hunt For Last Maoist Leader Sukru As March 31 Deadline Draws Near
Following which, the BBM division, in a four-page letter purportedly authored by Bikash to Chhattisgarh government, said that 15 of its members – 14 from Chhattisgarh and one from Telangana – were willing to join the mainstream and asked Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma to broadcast a message on radio guaranteeing their safety. The group also requested for halting of operations in Bargarh and Balangir, stating that they were moving gradually and would eventually surrender. Meetings were convened thereafter in Bargarh involving ADG (anti-Naxal operations) Sanjeeb Panda, IG (Operations) Deepak Kumar, officials from Bargarh and Balangir police, and other authorities concerned to assess the situation and coordinate responses.
In his message, the Minister assured the 15 cadres of full security, medical care, and a “red carpet” welcome.
Incidentally, Bikash is among those who surrendered between 2-4 am. The cadres also brought three AK-47 rifles, two SLRs, three .303 rifles, three 12-bore guns, two INSAS rifles and one 14 musket (a .303 rifle without a magazine), the HT reported, adding that a local journalist facilitated the initial contact while state intelligence units played a key coordinating role in the surrender process.