Bhubaneswar: More than 500 active Maoist supporters and sympathizers of 15 villages under Ralegada gram panchayat in Papermetla police limits under Swabhiman Anchal (Chitrakonda block) of Malkangiri district surrendered before Malkangiri SP Nitesh Wadhwani and DIG, BSF, Malkangiri at Janbai BSF camp on Monday.
The surrendered militias/supporters exhibited their opposition towards the Maoist ideology by burning the dress materials of Maoists and demolishing the Maoist Martyr Pillar and gave slogans “Maobadi Murdabad” before a large group of media before surrendering.
Swabhiman Anchal was considered as a Liberated Zone and Maoists ran Janatana Sarkar there. 37 Greyhound jawans, 07 BSF personnel, 04 Odisha Police personnel, and 40 innocent local tribals were killed by the Maoists. Thousands of local villagers had to leave the area out of fear.
Swabhiman Anchal, comprising of nine panchayats and 182 villages, which was safe haven of Maoists of Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee(AOBSZC) of the CPI (Maoist) for more than two decades, is undergoing fast turnaround. With the construction of Gurupriya bridge and special developmental packages of the State Government coupled with the strategic deployment of Security Forces inspired the villagers to join the mainstream.
Gurupriya Bridge was inaugurated by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in 2018 which heralded the series of developmental activities like construction of new roads, bridges, project to supply drinking water, electricity to all the houses of the area.
Medical facilities like boat Ambulance and 112 Ambulance services have been started. Many roads and bridges have been completed. Pisciculture has been started in big way. Many boats have been given to panchayats to operate for transportation. Mobile towers installation has been taken up on priority basis.
Earlier on 2nd June, 50 active hardcore Maoist supporters had surrendered before DGP, Odisha and on 11th June, 397 Maoist supporters had surrendered before Malkangiri Police and BSF at Jantri BSF Camp and joined mainstream.
