As many as 10 hardcore Maoists formally surrendered before the Odisha Police on Wednesday during a special function held at the Reserve Police Lines in Kandhamal district.
During the program, the surrendered cadres, who were operating under the KKBN (Kalahandi-Kandhamal-Boudh-Nayagarh) Division in Kandhamal, voluntarily laid down their arms and handed over their weapons to Sanjeeb Panda, IPS, ADG (Anti-Naxal Operations), symbolising their decision to renounce violence and rejoin mainstream society.
Addressing the gathering, ADG Panda said, “The surrender of 10 Maoists, including State Committee Member (SCM) Sanu Pottam alias Nitu, reflects the steadily weakening influence of Left-wing extremist ideology in the region.”
Panda further emphasised that sustained 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 eroded the Maoists’ base. He assured that all surrendered individuals would receive benefits under the state government’s Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy, which includes financial assistance and vocational training designed to help them reintegrate into society with dignity.
Notably, Nitu, a native of the Bijapur district in Chhattisgarh, carried a bounty of Rs 55 lakh as a State Committee Member of the Odisha State Committee of the Communist Party of India (Maoist). Nitu joined the Maoist organisation in 2004 and has been active in Odisha since 2022.
The group of 10 Maoists who surrendered on Wednesday includes one State Committee Member, one Divisional Committee Member, two Area Committee Members, and six party members. Collectively, they carried rewards totalling more than Rs 1.15 crore. In addition to the bounty amounts, they will receive compensation exceeding Rs 1.55 crore, which includes additional cash assistance of Rs 40 lakh.
The Maoists surrendered along with 10 weapons, including two INSAS rifles, two SLRs, three .303 rifles, two single-shot guns, one 12-bore gun, and a significant quantity of ammunition. The surrendered ultras will also receive approximately Rs 10 lakh for the deposited weaponry.
During the event, ADG Panda also expressed appreciation for the efforts of the CRPF, particularly the 80th Battalion, for their role in facilitating the surrender process.
Odisha Police sources stated that the killing of Central Committee Member Ganesh Uike in Kandhamal in December 2025, combined with sustained operations by security forces, has left the Maoist cadres demoralised, prompting their decision to surrender.
Following this latest development, the number of armed cadres operating in Odisha has been reduced to approximately 25, with their activity now confined to the border areas of the Kandhamal, Kalahandi, and Rayagada districts.
