Bhubaneswar: With the March 31 deadline for eradicating Left-Wing Extremism drawing near, Director General of Police (DGP) Y B Khurania voiced optimism on Friday, asserting that Odisha is on track to achieve the goal by capturing the remaining few Maoist operatives still active in the state.
“We have precise information regarding Sukru’s current location. Even as we speak, a large-scale operation is in progress,” the DGP stated in response to questions about police efforts to apprehend or neutralize the state’s most wanted Maoist leader.
Khurania said that security forces, including central paramilitary forces and Odisha Police, are advancing cautiously, inch by inch, through the dense forest at the trijunction of Kandhamal, Rayagada, and Kalahandi districts, where Sukru was taking shelter.
Sources said that Odisha Police tracked down Sukru’s
hiding spot with the help of drones and other gadgets, even though he had evaded capture since January.
Earlier addressing mediapersons at Police Bhawan here, Khurania had said that two Maoists surrendered on March 17, leaving 13 who are currently operating under Sukru. Another 11 Maoists surrendered in Kalahandi district on March 15.
The native of Malkangiri district is the lone senior cadre from Odisha. As a state committee member of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), he carries a reward of Rs 55 lakh on his head. He is currently leading a small group of around 13 cadres, operating in the Kandhamal–Kalahandi–Rayagada border region.
The neutralisation of his deputy platoon commander, Jagesh, and party member Ratna last month during an exchange of fire with the security forces in Nandabali reserved forest area of Kandhamal district, came as a blow for the Maoist leader.
Sukru, who earlier killed a fellow cadre, Anwesh alias Renu, and buried his body in a forest in Kandhamal district to prevent him from surrendering, is now reportedly contemplating laying down arms himself. However, he is facing stiff resistance from a faction within the CPI (Maoist), largely comprising his junior associates, the TOI reported, quoting police sources.