22 Armed Maoists Surrender in Odisha Government to Grant ₹1.84 Crore Under Revised Rehabilitation Policy
Senior CPI (Maoist) leaders among those who laid down arms as sustained security pressure and surrender policy yield results
Malkangiri (Odisha), Dec 23: In a significant boost to efforts aimed at eliminating left wing extremism in southern Odisha, 22 armed cadres of the banned CPI (Maoist) surrendered before the police in Malkangiri district on Tuesday, officials said.
The surrender, achieved after sustained outreach and security operations in the hilly and forested border regions, is considered a major setback to the Maoist organisation. Among those who laid down arms were a senior Divisional Committee Member (DVCM) and six Area Committee Members (ACMs), indicating a significant erosion of the group’s leadership structure.
The surrendered cadres handed over a large cache of arms and explosives in the presence of Odisha Director General of Police Yogesh Bahadur Khurania. The seized items included nine firearms an AK-47 rifle, two INSAS rifles, one SLR, three .303 rifles and two single-shot rifles—along with 150 rounds of live ammunition, nine magazines, 20 kg of explosives, 13 improvised explosive devices, gelatin sticks, codex wire, Maoist literature and other materials.
Police said the cadres pledged to renounce violence, sever all links with extremist groups and reintegrate into mainstream society, reaffirming their faith in the democratic process.
Officials attributed the mass surrender to a combination of factors, including sustained pressure by security forces, growing disillusionment with Maoist ideology, lack of local support, leadership vacuum within the organisation, and the state government’s revised Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation Policy. Repeated appeals by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and senior police officials encouraging extremists to abandon violence and join the development process also played a key role.
Under Odisha’s rehabilitation policy, the surrendered cadres will receive financial assistance based on their ranks, with the total reward amounting to ₹1.84 crore. Each surrendered cadre has been given an interim relief of ₹25,000.
In addition, they will be entitled to housing under the Antyodaya Gruha Yojana, a one-time marriage incentive of ₹25,000, free skill development training with a monthly stipend of ₹10,000 for up to 36 months, health cards, and access to free or subsidised ration under schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana and Antyodaya Anna Yojana.
The Odisha Police said all benefits would be provided promptly to help the surrendered cadres rebuild their lives with dignity, security and economic stability.
