In a significant development, 22 members of the banned CPI (Maoist) organization, including 10 women, surrendered their weapons to the Odisha Police in Malkangiri district. The surrendered Maoist cadres, affiliated with the Chhattisgarh cadre, gave up arms in the presence of Odisha’s Director General of Police (DGP), YB Khurania. These individuals collectively held rewards amounting to around Rs 1.48 crore, as per Malkangiri Police sources.
The surrendered Maoists handed over nine firearms, which included one AK-47 rifle, two INSAS rifles, one SLR rifle, three .303 rifles, and two single-shot rifles. Among the surrendered members were 19 individuals from the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC), two from the Andhra–Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC), and one from the Gadchiroli Area Committee.
According to an official statement by the Odisha Police, the surrendered cadres have denounced violence, cut ties with extremist activities, and opted to integrate into mainstream society, showing confidence in the democratic system. DGP Khurania emphasized the state government’s ‘Revised Surrender and Rehabilitation Scheme’ during interactions with the media. He encouraged Maoists operating in different regions to abandon violence and embrace mainstream society, assuring full support for their rehabilitation.
