Bhubaneswar, 15 March (H.S.) : In a significant development in the ongoing fight against Left-Wing Extremism, 11 hardcore Maoists surrendered before senior officials of the Odisha Police during a special programme held at the Reserve Police Lines in Bhawanipatna on Sunday.

The cadres laid down their arms before Odisha Director General of Police Yogesh Bahadur Khurania in the presence of senior officers, including Additional Director General of Police (Anti-Naxal Operations) Sanjeeb Panda, and other top officials from the CRPF, operations wings, and district police units. The surrender symbolised their decision to renounce violence and return to the mainstream.

Among those who surrendered was Nakul, a Divisional Committee Member of the Odisha State Committee of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), who carried a reward of ₹22 lakh on his head. The group included one Divisional Committee Member, five Area Committee Members, and five party members. Collectively, the surrendered cadres had rewards amounting to ₹63.25 lakh.

Addressing the gathering, the DGP said the surrender reflects the steadily weakening influence of Maoist ideology in the region. He credited sustained anti-Naxal operations conducted by security forces, including the Special Operations Group (SOG), District Voluntary Force (DVF), CRPF, and BSF, for creating conditions that encouraged the cadres to return to the mainstream.

Officials assured that all surrendered individuals would be provided benefits under the state government’s Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy, including financial assistance, vocational training, and support for reintegration into society.

The Additional DGP (Anti-Naxal Operations) stated that the development is a significant step toward achieving the national objective of eliminating Naxalism by March 31, 2026.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda