Chaibasa, Aug. 12(UDN): In a major setback to the Maoist network operating in the Odisha-Jharkhand border region, four cadres of the banned CPI (Maoist) surrendered before security forces in Chaibasa on Tuesday.
The surrendered cadres include three women and were reportedly active in the Maoist-affected Saranda region, which shares proximity with Odisha and has long remained a security concern.
The cadres surrendered before personnel of Chaibasa Police, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Jharkhand Jaguar.
One cadre carried Rs 10 lakh bounty
According to security officials, one of the surrendered Maoists carried a reward of Rs 10 lakh, while a woman cadre had a bounty of Rs 1 lakh announced by the authorities.
The remaining two cadres were also women members associated with the banned outfit and had allegedly been active in the Saranda area for a considerable period.
As part of the surrender, the cadres handed over a significant quantity of arms, ammunition and Maoist-related material to the security forces.
The items recovered included:
One AK-47 rifle
One INSAS rifle
Two walkie-talkies
Seven pieces of Maoist literature
2,276 rounds of live ammunition
Rehabilitation policy cited
Officials said the four cadres decided to leave the insurgent movement after being influenced by the Jharkhand government’s surrender and rehabilitation policy.
Their decision to give up armed activities and return to mainstream society is being viewed by security agencies as an important development in the ongoing campaign against left-wing extremism.
The surrender comes at a time when security forces have intensified operations against Maoist networks in forested areas along the Odisha-Jharkhand border.
Saranda remains security focus
The Saranda forest region has historically been a stronghold of Maoist activity and its proximity to Odisha has made it an important area for inter-state security coordination.
Security forces from Odisha and Jharkhand have been conducting coordinated operations to disrupt Maoist networks, movement and logistics in the border areas.
Officials believe the surrender of four cadres, including two individuals carrying announced bounties, could further weaken the organisational structure of the outfit in the region.
The authorities are now expected to verify the backgrounds, organisational roles and activities of the surrendered cadres as part of the formal surrender and rehabilitation process.