Four Maoists surrender in Orissa citing disillusion with leadership

Jajpur (Orissa), June 26 (ANI): Four Maoists surrendered before police in Jajpur, Orissa, on Saturday, saying they were disillusioned with their leaders.

Of the four, two were women. They surrendered before the District Superintendent of Police in Jajpur.

The surrendered Maoists have been identified as Suru alias Usha Palea, Laxmi alias Sambari Hessa, Bikram alias Jaysingh Gagarai and Ramesh Gagrai alias Avinash.

The cadres are aged between 18 and 20 and were working under the Kalinga Nagar division of the outfit.

Superintendent of Police Deepak Kumar said they were tricked into joining the group.

"They told us that they were promised of a monthly stipend, but were not given a single penny. They were also told by the Maoists that they would fight for the rights of the tribals. But, when they joined the group they saw the ultras are torturing the tribals and carrying out criminal activities such as extortion and beating up villagers. The cadres decided to give up the path of violence," Kumar said.

Kumar also listed a number of cases in which the cadres were involved.

"All these cadres are from Baligotha village. They have been involved in different incidents of violence that were carried out in Jajpur and Keonjhar districts. One of them was involved in Daitary police station attack and abducted police officer Umesh Marandi and robbed explosives from IDC mines. The cadres also killed Kailash Mohanta and Keshab Behera at Rebana-Palaspal village. They have also indulged in damaging public properties by setting it on fire and vandalizing it," said Kumar.

Police officials also said a screening committee would approve their surrender before the district Relief and Habilitation Committee takes steps to rehabilitate them.

Maoists have a significant presence in tribal and rural regions in Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Orissa. The Prime MInister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, has described the Maoists as the single most challenge to internal security. (ANI)