Hardcore Maoist carrying cash reward surrenders in Odisha 

A day after two Area Committee Members (ACM) of the outlawed organisation surrendered in the Malkangiri district, another hardcore Maoist, who carried a cash reward of Rs 3 lakh on his head, surrendered before the Bolangir Police on Saturday. 

As per reports, Somnath Achela alias Mahesh is a resident of Kanker district in Chhattisgarh. He joined the CPI (Maoist) in 2006 and had been working as an active member. From 2021, he was involved in various Maoist activities in the Bolangir area. He was operating as an area commander in the Bolangir, Bargarh, and Mahasamund (BBM) Division. 

Today he surrendered at Bolangir SP’s office in the presence of IG (Northern Range) Himanshu Lal and SP Rishikesh Khilari. 

Also Read: Maoist cadres from Chhattisgarh surrender in Odisha’s Malkangiri

The cops said torture by Maoists; intensive combing by police and fear forced him to surrender. He was also attracted towards the government’s several developmental activities, they added. 

“After realising that what he was doing wouldn’t benefit him in any way, he wanted to get back to the mainstream of society and become a part of the government’s developmental activities. So he surrendered before the Bolangir Police. He will receive all benefits under the government’s surrender policy,” said IG (Northern Range), Himanshu Lal.