Maoist leader, associate lay down arms in Odisha

A Maoist leader, who carried a reward of Rs 4 lakh on his head, surrendered before police today along with one of his associates in Odisha's Angul district.

The duo, identified as Dayanand alias Chhotu Ganjhu and Jali Dehury, a woman cadre of the CPI(Maoist), decided to shun violence and join the mainstream as they were disillusioned with the ideology of the outfit, Angul Superintendent of Police Mitrabhanu Mohapatra said.

Both of them had been active in Sundergarh-Deogarh-Sambalpur (SDS) division for over a decade, Mohapatra said.

Dayananda had joined the outfit in 2000 and was trained in handling weapons, the SP said, adding that he was involved in over a dozen criminal cases.

During their confession, Dayananda and Dehury said the Maoists were torturing the tribals instead of fighting for their cause, the SP stated, adding that necessary steps would be taken for their rehabilitation in line with the government policy.