Malkangiri, once the epicentre of left-wing extremism in Odisha, was declared a “Naxal-free” district on Wednesday. The milestone follows the high-profile surrender of Sukhram Markam, a prominent Maoist leader carrying a bounty of Rs 21 lakh, who surrendered himself before the police, a senior police officer said.
The announcement follows closely on the heels of Nabarangpur district also being cleared of Maoist presence after nine rebels surrendered in neighbouring Chhattisgarh.
Markam, who served as an area committee member for the outlawed CPI (Maoist), also surrendered an SLR rifle, ammunition and other articles to Malkangiri SP Binod Patil H.
The SP described the surrender of such a high-ranking ideological and operational leader as the final blow to the insurgency in the region.
“This surrender of operational and ideological CPI (Maoist) leader marks a final blow to the red rebels in the district, making Malkangiri Naxal-free,” the SP said, speaking to the reporters.
Markam, alias Suresh alias Yogesh, was present at the press conference alongside the police officials.
Malkangiri was once considered the breeding ground of left-wing extremism in Odisha.
The SP said Markam, who was involved in a series of violence in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, decided to join the mainstream.
He said the surrendered Maoist severed ties with the left-wing extremist group, and expressed faith in the democratic process.
“Sukhram will get all the benefits given under the state government’s rehabilitation policy,” the superintendent of police said.
