Malkangiri: Over 650 Maoist supporters including 350 militias, village committee members (VCMs) and Chetana Natya Mandali Members (CNM) hailing from Malkangiri district of Odisha and Alluri Sitharam Raju district of neighbouring Andhra Pradesh surrendered before the Malkangiri police at Jantapayi (Papermetla).
These Maoist supporters hailed from Chintangar, Dagudubuli, Jumdam, Kotiyaduru, Kottauru, Limatam, Mandapalli, Puruna Gajed, Singavaram and Sunamugoyi villages of Dhuliput gram panchayat, Boteru, Suapalli and Neredupalli of Rollagedda gram panchayat under Papermetla police limits in Chitrakonda block of Malkangiri district and Jodiguda, Gunjuvada and Mettaguda villages of Jamiguda gram panchayat and Tagupadu, Kondrum of Injeri gram panchayat under Pedabailu police limits of Alluri Sitharam Raju district of neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.
All these remote villages are located on the Odisha-AP border and were the erstwhile stronghold of Maoists.
These Maoist supporters surrendered before Malkangiri Police at Jantapayi (Papermetla) in the presence of Rajesh Pandit, DIG of Police, South Western Range; Nitesh Wadhwani, SP, Malkangiri; Sailaendra Kumar Sinha, DIG, BSF, Malkangiri and Sunil Kumar Minj, Commandant, 9th Bn, Chitrakonda.
They used to assist in violent activities and were involved in the killing of security forces and civilians. They were also supplying logistics to them.
The surrendered militias/ supporters of Odisha and bordering areas of AP exhibited their opposition towards the Maoist ideology by burning the dress materials and effigies of Maoists and giving slogans “Maobadi Murdabad, Ama Sarkar Jindabad” before a large group of media persons before surrendering.
Swabhiman Anchal, comprising of 9 gram panchayats and 182 villages, which was safe haven for Maoists of Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC) of the CPI (Maoist) for more than two decades, is undergoing a fast turnaround.
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 the CM in 2018 which heralded a series of developmental activities like the construction of new roads and bridges, projects to supply drinking water, and electricity to all the houses in 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 a big way. Many power boats have been given to gram panchayats to operate for transportation. Installation of mobile towers has been taken up on a priority basis. These proactive measures by the government motivated them to join the mainstream and partake in the development process.
Earlier on June 2 this year 50 active hardcore Maoist supporters had surrendered before the DGP, Odisha, on June 11, as many as 347 Maoist supporters had surrendered before Malkangiri Police & BSF at Jantri BSF Camp, on 22 August 550 supporters had surrendered before Malkangiri Police & BSF at Janbai BSF Camp and on 17 September 700 Maoist supporters had surrendered before Malkangiri Police and BSF at Andrahal (Mudulipada) and joined the mainstream.
This has created a huge impact in the area and many more are considering ‘Ghar Wapsi’ in the future.
