10 Maoists surrender in Odisha

Ten Maoists, including three women, surrendered in Odisha Wednesday, police said.

The rebels, aged between 21-30, lay down their arms before police in the district headquarters town of Malkangiri, 620 km from here, sub-divisional police officer K. Siva Subramani said.

Five of the 10 Maoists were involved in various crimes like landmine blasts, arson and attacks on police. One of them was an area commander of the local Maoist unit, Subramani said.

The others were militia committee members of the Communist Party of India-Maoist and were providing logistical support to the rebels, he added.

Some of the surrendered Maoists told police that older rebels were harassing them and using them as shields during encounters with security forces.