In an apparent success for the security forces, more than 180 left-wing militants and Maoist sympathisers from Jantri Panchayat under Malkangiri's Chitrakonda block surrendered before the SDPO and the BDO on Saturday.
As a mark of shunning violence, they set their Maoist uniforms on fire in front of the Chitrakonda SDPO, BDO and the IIC of the Jodamba police station.
Pertinent to mention here that, a number of villagers from Dabuguda, Dhakodpadar, Jodamba and Arlingjoda under the Panchayat have been working for the Maoists either directly as armed militants or indirectly as their sympathisers.
However, the Maoist stronghold began to lose its grip on the area after BSF camps were set up in the area and the government started active awareness campaigns to bring them into mainstream.
While speaking to reporters, Chitrakonda SDPO, Ansuman Dwivedy said, "Maoists and their sympathisers of three villages under Jantri panchayat shunned violence and decided to join in the mainstream by availing several rehabilitation schemes by the government."
"I am very happy that people are gradually getting conscious about their development and shunning the path of violence on their own," he added.
Malkangiri district administration has been helping us a lot in terms of bringing govt schemes to us. I hope it continues to do so even after our surrender," said a Maoist who surrendered today.
Earlier this month, 50 Maoist supporters of Malkangiri district had surrendered before Odisha police in presence of DGP Sunil Bansal.
The Maoist sympathisers including two women surrendered before the DGP during his visit to Jantri police camp in Swabhiman Anchal (earlier known as cut-off area) in the Maoist-hit Malkangiri district.