Six Maoists surrender in Odisha's Malkangiri District

At least six Maoists have surrendered before police in Odisha's Malkangiri District.

Superintendent of Police Akhileswar Singh confirmed the surrender of the Maoists.

He said that they had surrendered in the Chitrakonda area of Malkangiri District, and added that they were involved in several attacks and illegal cases.

These six men were collecting information and providing logistic support to the Maoists in Chitrakonda region of the district.

Reportedly, Maoists are operative in at least 15 districts of Odisha.

Singh added that the surrendered Maoists would be provided with necessary assistance under the state government's rehabilitation policy.

The Maoist insurgents are estimated to number between 6,000 and 8,000 hardcore fighters in nearly a third of India's 630 districts. While they have made few inroads into cities, they have spread into rural pockets in 20 of 28 states.

Maoists say they are fighting for the rights of poor farmers and landless labourers. Thousands have been killed in the insurgency since the late 1960s.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has described the Maoist insurgency as India's biggest internal security challenge.