500 Maoist supporters surrender in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Motivated by the developmental works of the Odisha government, over 500 Maoist supporters have surrendered before the police. This comes after a batch of 295 surrendered on June 11.

Director General of Police (DGP) S.K. Bansal said they expressed their opposition to the Maoist ideology by burning their clothes and shouting the slogan "Maobadi (Maoist) Murdabad". The incident took place in Swabhiman Anchal of Malkangiri district on Monday.

The surrendered people of the militia include men and women from Dabal Pahad, Ralegada, Chintalduli, Korrapalli, Tekpadar, Palankrayi, Tatipahad, Eskapalli, Sarukabandha, Durgam, Banajholi, Chikatpalli, Jajpalli, Gajalmamidi, Sitapalli villages located along the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border. Earlier, it was a Maoist stronghold.

Police said they voluntarily approached the BSF camp in Janbai to offer surrender.

According to officials, Swabhiman Anchal has experienced severe violence due to Maoist activity over the last two decades. Supporters were involved in the activities by killing security forces and civilians. They were also supplying logistics to the militants.

As many as 37 greyhound jawans, 7 BSF personnel, 4 Odisha police personnel, and 40 innocent local tribals were killed in the region by the Maoists. Thousands of locals left their villages out of fear.

The area has 9 GPs and 182 villages. Once considered a safe haven for Maoists, the region has been seeing a fast turnaround in recent times. The state government has implemented special development packages and strategic deployment of security forces to change the situation. Developments like the construction of the Gurupriya bridge have motivated the villagers to join the mainstream.