Malkangiri: A total of 295 active militias, village committee members, sympathisers and members of Gana Natya Sangha both male and female, of villages Dhakadpadar, Dabuguda, Taber and Arlingpada of Jantri Gram Panchayat (Cut-off area) under Jodambo police limits of Malkangiri district surrendered before the police and Malkangiri district administration at Jantri BSF COB today.
These surrendered villagers were involved in several exchanges of fire, arson cases, civilian killings, hoisting of black flags instead of the national flag, burning of vehicles, boycotting MLA, MP elections, supply of food and logistics to Maoists, passing of information about the movement of security forces, threatening and assaulting of innocent tribals to leave their native villages, land, household articles and domestic animals on the plea of police informer confessed that they were misled by the Maoists to be indulged in violence.
Being encouraged by the surrender of local militias on June 2nd this year and seeing the development works by the government in the area, they decided to join the mainstream and lead a peaceful life.
They exhibited their opposition to the Maoist ideology by burning the dress materials of Maoists and shouting slogans “Maobadi Murdabad”.
The surrendered villagers performed Dhemsa (local folk dance) at the camp. A grand feast was organized by the police and administration for them.
The district administration also distributed Job cards and Pension cards, while police distributed sports equipment to the surrendered villagers today.
Notably, 50 active militias of the Cut-off area, which is one of the most Maoist-infested area of the country, had surrounded before DGP Sunil Bansal on the 2nd of this month.
Odisha Police and Malkangiri administration have appealed to the remaining Maoists to join the mainstream and lead a peaceful life.
