In a significant success for the security forces in Odisha, as many as two former cadres of the banned Maoist outfit surrendered before the police in the insurgency-hit Malkangiri district on March 15, according to police.
According to the details shared by the police, both the surrendered cadres were Area Committees Member (ACM) of the outlawed CPI Maoists and were carrying a collective bounty of Rs 12 lakh on their heads.
The surrendered Maoists have been identified as Kadati Hura alias Samir alias Sanjay and Ganga Kartami alias Ganga, both residents of the Sukma district of neighbouring Chhattisgarh. According to the information received, both the surrendered Maoists had joined the banned outfit in 2001.
Kadati, a resident of Burkalanka, under the Kistaram police station limits of Sukma, had joined the outlawed outfit as a militia member, following which he was promoted to the rank of party member of the Kistaram Area Committee of the proscribed CPI Maoist in 2002.
In subsequent years, Kadati was promoted to the rank of ACM and given the charge of supply teams. However, in 2014, Kadati opted to leave the outfit due to illness and only made a return in 2022 when he joined the Revolutionary People’s Committee (RPC) and started working as the president of the Dandkaranya Adivasi Kisan Mazdoor Sangh (DAKMS) of Burkalanka.
Kadati was carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh on his head as a ACM member, and an additional reward of Rs 1 lakh had already been announced for him as the president of DAKMS, informed Malkangiri police in a press note issued on Friday, March 15.
As per the press release, the other accused Ganga had joined the banned outfit under Konta Area Committee of the South Bastar division of the extremists as a militia member and was elevated as a party member of the Konta AC in 2007.
Two cadres of ACM rank of the banned CPI (Maoist), both residents of Sukma, Chhattisgarh, carrying a reward of Rs. 6 lakh each, surrendered today before @digswrkoraput and SP Malkangiri. They will be rehabilitated as per the state's policy. @DGPOdisha @CMO_Odisha pic.twitter.com/g6OcMAPMM2
— SP Malkangiri (@spmalkangiri) March 15, 2024
Further, he was promoted to Area Committee Member (ACM) in 2012 and was also appointed president of DAKMS of Konta. Ganga was allegedly involved in a number of attacks carried out by the Maoists and was carrying a reward of rs 6 lakh for the same.
Both the surrendered Maoists were deterred by the regular operations of the forces while also being inspired by the surrender and rehabilitation policies of the government at the same time, according to the Malkangiri police.
Two Maoists were killed in encounter
In other news related to left wing insurgency, as many as two Maoists have been neutralised following an exchange of fire that occurred between the security forces and the Maoists under the Bedre police station limits of Bijapur district on March 15.
According to the reports, the gunfight took place when a joint team of security forces was out on a search operation upon receiving intelligence about the presence of a group of Maoists from the Indravati Area Committee of the outlawed CPI Maoists.
A gunfight broke out between the security forces and the Maoists after the latter opened fire upon the combined party of forces near Hingmeta village, triggering heavy retaliation from the security personnel as well. Following the gunfight, as many as two Maoists were recovered from the spot. The joint team has also recovered arms, ammunition, and explosive materials from the spot.
Notably, the security forces in a separate operation launched in the Bijapur district itself nabbed a seasoned Maoist cadre on March 14. The arrested cadre has been identified as a Divisional Committee Member of the Maoists, Sudhakar alias Undaam.
Sudhakar was allegedly involved in hundreds of acts of violence, looting, murder, and arson and was carrying a reward of Rs 8 lakh.
