Three hardcore Maoists including two women surrender in Odisha's Kandhamal

In a significant development in Odisha’s fight against left-wing extremism, three hardcore Maoists, including two women, have surrendered before police and CRPF officials at the District Police Office in Phulbani, Kandhamal on Monday.

The surrendered Maoists have been identified as Made Beti alias Champa (30), Raju Dodi alias Ajay (35), and Admo Madvi alias Manju (27). 

The trio, all hailing from Chhattisgarh, belonged to different divisions of the banned CPI (Maoist) outfit and were active for over a decade. Made Beti was a Divisional Committee Member (DVCM) of the Bansadhara-Ghumsar-Nagabali (BGN) division, while Raju Dodi and Admo Madvi were Area Committee Members (ACM) in the 8th Company of the Kalahandi-Kandhamal-Boudh-Nayagarh (KKBN) division.

According to officials, the surrendered cadres were tasked with reviving the defunct North-South Maoist corridor stretching from Jharkhand to Chhattisgarh via Odisha. They had participated in several violent incidents in both Chhattisgarh and Odisha.

"They surrendered as they were disillusioned because of the intensified and sustained combing operations, and also due to the attractive surrender policy of the government," Kandhamal SP Harish B C said.

Also Read | Poverty-ridden family in Odisha's Bargarh seeks government help

"We have intensified combing operations in Maoist-affected areas to curb LWE activities in Kandhamal," Harish added.

The surrendered cadres were involved in several violent incidents in both Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

"We once again appeal to all the Maoists to shun violence and join the mainstream," Inspector General of Police (IGP) Niti Shekhar told reporters.