The Maoist leader carried a reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head before he surrendered before the Vishakhapatman police in Andhra Pradesh. The police provided the reward to Azad as he had laid down arms on his own before the police. Odisha police had arrested Azad after his surrender and he has been incarcerated in Jharpada jail.
Meanwhile, two more witnesses today recorded their statements before the ADJ Fast Track Court at Gunupur in the Kutinguda encounter case under Gudari police station against Subhashree Dash alias Mili Panda, wife of top naxal leader Sabyasachi Panda. The court has so far examined 13 witnesses in the case and would record the statement of Mili Panda tomorrow.
Mili Panda has been held in the Gunupur jail since October 21,2011 for her allegd involvement in the Kutinguda encounter case. The name of Mili Panda figured in the list of seven rebels whose release has been demanded by the Maoists to free Italian national Paolo Bosusco held hostage since March 14.