
Two Maoist women, affiliated with the banned organization CPI (Maoist), surrendered to the police in Odisha’s Boudh district on Tuesday, officials reported. Identified as Manisha Thati, 21, and Champa Koram Sajanti, 22, both hailing from neighboring Chhattisgarh, they were tasked with reactivating the north-south corridor from Jharkhand to Chhattisgarh via south-central Odisha, according to police sources. These individuals had been associated with the outlawed group since 2018, participating in various violent incidents in both Chhattisgarh and Odisha states.
JN Pankaj, IG of southern range, stated, “They were working in CPI (Maoist) organization since 2018 and were involved in several violent incidents both in Chhattisgarh and Odisha state. They have surrendered to live a normal life.” According to police, the surrendered Maoists revealed their disillusionment with the organization’s continuous unethical activities, including sexual harassment of female cadre, extortion of funds through intimidation, and recruitment of young individuals through false promises and propaganda.
A police officer mentioned, “They also expressed that they were disillusioned by the high-handed activities and rude behaviour of senior leaders towards the lower-rank cadre, encouraging cannabis cultivation and trade and disruption of electoral processes.” The Boudh police assured the surrendered cadres of suitable rehabilitation under the surrender and rehabilitation scheme of the Odisha government. This assistance package includes financial aid, homestead land, housing support, education opportunities, and vocational training with a monthly stipend.
In the past two months, around 10 to 12 more CPI (Maoist) cadre members from Chhattisgarh have absconded from the camp, according to police sources. Efforts are underway to establish contact with them, with the surrendered individuals providing information about the Maoist network’s involvement in narcotics trade and other extortion activities. JN Pankaj urged disillusioned cadres to come forward and surrender, emphasizing intensified anti-Maoist operations in affected areas until the issue is eradicated from the state.