Bhubaneswar, March 11 (NationPress) In a significant development, 10 hardcore Maoists surrendered to the Odisha Police during a special ceremony at the Reserve Police Lines in Kandhamal district.

During the event, the surrendered Maoists, who were affiliated with the KKBN (Kalahandi-Kandhamal-Boudh-Nayagarh) Division, voluntarily relinquished their arms, presenting their weapons to Sanjeeb Panda, IPS, ADG (Anti-Naxal Operations). This act symbolizes their commitment to abandon violence and reintegrate into society.

Addressing the attendees, ADG Panda remarked, “The surrender of these 10 Maoists, including State Committee Member (SCM) Sanu Pottam alias Nitu, signifies a diminishing influence of Left-wing extremism in the region.”

Panda further highlighted that ongoing operations by security forces, including the Special Operation Group (SOG), District Voluntary Force (DVF) of Odisha Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Border Security Force (BSF), have significantly weakened the Maoists’ stronghold. He assured that all individuals who surrendered would benefit from the state government’s Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy, which includes financial assistance and vocational training to aid their reintegration into normal life.

Notably, Nitu, originally from Bijapur district in Chhattisgarh, has a bounty of Rs 55 lakh placed on his head as a State Committee Member of the Odisha State Committee of the Communist Party of India (Maoist). He had joined the Maoist ranks in 2004 and had been active in Odisha since 2022.

Among those who surrendered are one State Committee Member, one Divisional Committee Member, two Area Committee Members, and six party members, whose cumulative rewards exceed Rs 1.15 crore. They will also receive compensation totaling over Rs 1.55 crore, which includes an additional cash assistance of Rs 40 lakh.

The group surrendered with 10 weapons, comprising two INSAS rifles, two SLRs, three .303 rifles, two single-shot guns, one 12-bore gun, and a substantial amount of ammunition. The surrendered individuals will also receive approximately Rs 10 lakh for the weapons.

On this occasion, ADG Panda praised the role of the CRPF, particularly the 80th Battalion, in facilitating the surrender process.

According to sources within the Odisha Police, following the demise of Central Committee Member Ganesh Uike in Kandhamal in December 2025 and continued operations by security forces, the morale of the Maoists has plummeted, leading them to choose surrender over continued violence.

With this latest surrender, the number of armed cadres operating in Odisha has dwindled to around 25, with their activities now primarily confined to the border regions of Kandhamal, Kalahandi, and Rayagada districts.