Six 'disillusioned' Maoists surrender in Odisha

Six armed Maoists, including a woman carrying a reward of Rs.1 lakh for her capture, Sunday surrendered in Odisha after being left "disillusioned" by Maoist ideology, police said.

The rebels, wanted in connection with several violent incidents, surrendered before the police in the district headquarters town of Koraput, about 500 km from state capital Bhubaneswar.

"They were active members of the Srikakulam-Koraput divisional committee of the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist," Inspector General of Police (south-western range) Yashwant Jethwa told IANS.

Those who surrendered were identified as Jeera Kendruka, Kadulu Mandingi, Musuri Sirika, Uttra Bingodika, Pramila Wadeka and Susmita Mandingi.

Jeera Kendruka and Kadulu Mandingi had received training in weapon handling and planting of explosives and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), District Superintendent of Police Avinash Kumar said.

They were involved in the violent incidents perpetrated by the Maoists in Narayanpatna-Bandhugaon area of the district from 2009 till date.

Pramila Wadeka, one of the surrendered rebels, was carrying a reward of Rs.1 lakh on her head, he said.

"She joined the rebels in 2010 and had received training in weapon handling and planting of explosives. Due to torture meted out to her during her stay with the rebels she decided to leave", he said.

After being left disillusioned with the futility of armed struggle of the CPI (Maoist), all the six rebels decided to surrender, Kumar said.

Their case will be considered for rehabilitation under the surrender policy of the state government, he added.

Maoists are active in more than half of Odisha's 30 districts. Koraput is considered one of their strongholds.