Maoist leader Anvesh killed by fellow cadre in Odisha

In a significant development amid ongoing Maoist activities in Odisha, a body suspected to be that of a senior Maoist leader has been recovered from a forest area in Kandhamal district on Wednesday.

According to police sources, the decomposed body was exhumed from beneath the soil in the Tarabadi forest under Daringbadi police limits. The recovery was carried out by the Kandhamal Police following specific inputs about the presence of a buried body in the area.

Key Figure Within Maoist Organization

Preliminary reports suggest that the deceased is likely to be Anvesh, a Divisional Committee Member of the KKBN division of the banned CPI (Maoist) outfit. Anvesh was considered a key figure within the Maoist organization and was reportedly active in the region for several years.

Also Read: 15 Maoists of BBM division operating along Odisha–Chhattisgarh border likely to surrender

Reports indicate that he has been killed by fellow Maoists. There is speculation that State Committee Member Shukru could be involved in the alleged killing. Sources further suggest that Anvesh was planning to surrender before the authorities, and the murder might have been carried out to deter other Maoist cadres from laying down arms under the government’s surrender policy.

Detering Maoists From Laying Down Arms

Kandhamal SP confirmed that Anvesh was indeed killed by Shukru to deter other Maoist cadres from surrendering. 

Speaking to media, Kandhamal SP Harish B.C. said, “Anvesh was killed by Shukru. The murder took place on the 29th of last month. After killing him, Shukru buried the body in the forest under Daringbadi police limits. Police later exhumed the body and conducted a post-mortem.  A murder case has been registered at Daringbadi Police Station. Anvesh was a DVCM member of the KKBN division and had a bounty of Rs 22 lakh. He was planning to surrender. He was allegedly killed to prevent him from laying down arms.”

Earlier, there were reports that 15 members of the BBM Division operating along the Odisha–Chhattisgarh border are set to surrender before authorities. The group reportedly includes division chief Vikas, who carries a bounty of Rs 65 lakh on his head.