In a significant breakthrough, Odisha Police apprehended a top woman Maoist cadre, Anti Madvi, who had a bounty of Rs 2 lakh on her head. The arrest occurred in the Kurti forest area within the MV-79 police limits of the Malkangiri district. Acting on specific intelligence regarding the presence of a woman Maoist in the region, the police initiated an operation to verify the information. Anti Madvi, who was behaving suspiciously in the jungle, was intercepted and taken into custody.
During interrogation, she admitted to being a Maoist cadre and revealed that she had come to the area to collect logistical supplies. Further questioning uncovered her active involvement in Maoist activities across Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh.
Anti Madvi, also known by the aliases Lakey and Lake, hails from Pulhar village, which falls under Jangla police limits in Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh. She joined the Maoist ranks in 2017 under the leadership of Sukram, Deputy Commander of Platoon No. 12 of the West Bastar Division. Since 2020, she had served as part of the protection team for senior Maoist leader Uday, carrying an SLR weapon. As a close aide to Uday, she participated in several incidents of Maoist violence in Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh.
Speaking at a press briefing, Niti Sekhar, DIG of Police for the South-Western Range in Koraput, stated, “We received intelligence about the suspicious movement of a young woman in the Kurti jungle under MV-79. A police team apprehended her, and during interrogation, she confessed to being a member of Uday’s team. Her identity was confirmed as Anti Madvi, alias Lakey. She is a known Maoist cadre with a ₹2 lakh bounty announced by the Odisha government.”
This arrest marks the latest in a series of setbacks for Maoists in Odisha. Continuous operations by police and security forces have significantly impacted their morale, leading to many cadres surrendering. Just a few days prior, a Maoist from Chhattisgarh surrendered to Kandhamal police, indicating a growing trend of defections and arrests.
The capture of Anti Madvi is viewed as a major success in the fight against Maoist insurgency in the region. It highlights the relentless efforts of security forces to dismantle the network of red terrorists, contributing to an increasingly secure environment in the area.
