Wanted Juvenile Maoist Linked To PLGA Commander Hidma Surrenders In Odisha

Malkangiri: A juvenile Maoist, who hails from Chhattisgarh, surrendered before DIG (South-Western Range) Charan Singh Meena in Odisha’s Malkangiri on Wednesday.

A native of Silger village in Sukma district, he joined the outlawed CPI (Maoist) in October 2023 and was involved in several exchanges of fire with security forces during the last 8 months. “He was present during the exchange of fire between Maoists and security forces, including one in which four jawans were martyred. He left the outfit in May 2024,” the DIG.

According to a press release issued by Malkangiri Police, he was inspired by the various developmental activities undertaken by the Odisha government in Malkangiri . The extremist was disillusioned with his organisation leaders after realising that they were doing nothing for the development of their area and were only interested in personal gains.

He will be rehabilitated in accordance with rehabilitation policy for the Maoists, who have been shunning the path of violence and joining the mainstream.

Sources said that the juvenile, who was carrying a reward of Rs 2 lakh on his head, was a close associate of  elusive Maoist leader Madvi Hidma, who is the commander of the first battalion of People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) of CPI(Maoist). He was involved in several violent confrontations with the police near Jiram, Tipuram, and Damawaram villages along the Chhattisgarh border.