Maoist leader Bija Madabi lays down arms in Odisha’s Kandhamal

A top figure within the Maoist insurgency, Bija Madabi, has voluntarily surrendered to law enforcement agencies in the Kandhamal district. On his own accord, he approached the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police-southern range, accompanied by officials from the district police, a senior official said on Thursday.

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According to sources, hailing from Sukma district in neighbouring Chhattisgarh, Madabi had played a crucial role within the Rahul Area Committee of Kalahandi-Kandhamal-Boudh-Nayagarh (KKBN) division over the last six years. His tenure was marked by active involvement since 2020, where he was implicated in roughly 10 incidents of armed clashes between Maoists and the security personnel.

The decision to lay down arms was attributed by Madabi himself to a noticeable decline in community support for Maoist activities. His unexpected surrender subsequently enabled police forces to dismantle a Maoist camp located under Baliguda police limits.

During the event of his surrender, security forces recovered a pistol alongside two rounds of ammunition from Madabi’s possession, an official source informed.

“Area Committee party member of Rahul identified as Bija Madabi alias TKS surrendered yesterday. He had brought a pistol and two live bullets. Since police encounters have increased in this region, he preferred to lay down his arms out of fear and join the mainstream,” Kandhamal SP, Harisha B.C stated in a presser.

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It is pertinent to mention that a juvenile Maoist carrying a bounty of around Rs 2 Lakh on his head surrendered at the SP office in Malkangiri district on August 21, 2024.

The Maoists had surrendered before Charan Singh Meena, the southwestern range DIG. The minor red rebel, who hails from Chhattisgarh’s Sukma Village, had joined the banned outfit in 2023.