Bodyguard of Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda surrenders

Prasant Majhi (23), who claimed to have worked as a bodyguard of Panda for over two years, surrendered without any weapons before Gajapati district Superintendent of Police Sarthak Sarangi.

Majhi, who belonged to Tudukapanka village in R Udayagiri area, said he was drafted as a cadre in 2005 when he was studying in Class 10.

After joining as a cadre, Majhi had undergone training in at least six camps - Lamdang, Jorakuan, Gagulbari, Katipadar, Minanjoli in Gajapati and Bariguda in neighbouring Kandhamal district in jungle warfare and handling of different sophisticated weapons.

Significantly, the camp at Katipadar was conducted by top Maoist leader Azad ahead of the murder of senior VHP leader Laxmanada Saraswati at his Jalespeta Ashram in Kandhamal district on August 23, 2008.

"Majhi is good at handling different sophisticated weapons", Sarangi said, adding, he had the expertise in AK-47, sten guns, INSAS rifles and 9 mm pistols.

Sarangi said Majhi was involved in the killing of two 'gram rakhees' (village guards) of Katama village, blasting of a forest beat house at Panigada about two years ago among other offences.

Asked as to what led him to desert the Maoist camp, Majhi said, "Maoists have since deviated from their ideology and the leaders and cadres from other states, particularly, Chhattisgarh are perpetrating atrocities on Odia cadres. Besides, the cadres are forcibly asked to marry".

However, Majhi denied his involvement in the abduction of the two Italians in Kandhamal district.

"Yes, I was very much active. But I was at a different place when the Italians were taken hostage by Maoists at a place bordering Ganjam and Kandhamal districts", Majhi said.

Sarangi said Majhi would be rehabilitated as per the state government's policy prepared for surrendered Maoists.