Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s sustained campaign against Left-wing extremism gained further momentum with one more Maoist surrendering before Koraput Police on Thursday, the third within a span of three days.
According to a police release, an underground ACM-ranked CPI (Maoist) Mamata Podiami alias Mamita and Soni surrendered in presence of DIG (SW Range) Kanwar Vishal Singh and Koraput SP Rohit Verma. “This surrender marks a major setback to CPI (Maoist), significantly eroding its leadership, morale and operational strength,” it said.
A native of Bijapur in Chhattisgarh, 26-year-old Mamata handed over one 7.62 mm SLR rifle along with a magazine and 1
0 rounds of live ammunition as she renounced violence, severed all links with extremist activities and opted to join the mainstream of society. She was allegedly involved in several other exchange-of-fire incidents, anti-government, and anti-national activities along the Odisha–Chhattisgarh border areas, which are still being verified, the release added.
On Wednesday, a hardcore maoist cadre, carrying a reward of Rs 21 lakh, surrendered before Malkangiri police, dealing a severe blow to Left-wing extremism in the district. This came a day after a Maoist guerrilla identified as ‘Prabhu’, a native of Jharkhand who had been active in subversive activities for the past two years, surrendered before Rourkela Police in Sundargarh district.
These surrenders in the last three days are seen as part of the growing trend of Maoists giving up arms in response to intensified security operations and the state government’s new Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation Policy, which includes financial assistance, vocational training, and livelihood support.