Three hardcore Maoists, including two women cadres, have surrendered before the Kandhamal district police. The surrender took place in the presence of Superintendent of Police (SP) Harish Bisi, South Range IG, and the Commandant of the 127th Battalion on Monday.
The surrendered Maoists have been identified as Maade Beti alias Champa (DVCM), Raju Dadi alias Ajay (ACM), and Admo Madhavi alias Manju (ACM). According to the South Range IG, all three hail from Chhattisgarh and were active in Maoist operations across Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
Maade Beti had joined the Maoist group in 2009, while Raju joined in 2016, and Madhavi became part of the organisation in 2023.
SP Bisi informed that the trio was involved in various Maoist activities and violent incidents across both states. The surrender reportedly came after growing frustration over mental and physical torture, exploitation by senior leaders, forced extortion, and hindrance to developmental work, which led them to question Maoist ideology and opt for surrender.
He further added that continuous anti-Maoist operations, destruction of Maoist camps, seizure of weapons, and multiple Maoist deaths in gunfights have significantly weakened the Maoist presence in Kandhamal, which was once considered a Maoist stronghold.
Thanks to the state government’s attractive surrender and rehabilitation policy, many extremists are now willing to return to the mainstream. Under the policy, the surrendered Maoists will receive financial aid, stipends, skill development training, residential land, housing support, and proper rehabilitation arrangements, as per the guidelines.
SP Harish Bisi and the South Range IG expressed confidence that Kandhamal will soon be fully Maoist-free.
