Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), Aug 30: Two highly trained members of the outlawed CPI (Maoist), Puja Tati (35) and Saita Padam (31), surrendered to Odisha Police on Friday. Puja, also known as Paro, hails from Bijapur district in Chhattisgarh and was the platoon commander of the Bargarh local organizing squad (LOC). Saita, known as Raghu, was the leader of the Balangir LOC and is from Sukma district.
Both individuals had bounties of Rs 4 lakh and Rs 3 lakh on their heads, respectively, and were actively involved in expanding Maoist activities in the Bargarh and Balangir districts.
The surrender took place before IG Police Northern Range, Sambalpur, Himanshu Lal, and Bargarh SP, Prahalad Meena. IG Lal described the surrender as a significant blow to left-wing extremism in the Gandhamardan area.
The Maoists surrendered after realizing that the organization had strayed from its original ideological goals, focusing instead on extortion and attacks against civilians and security forces. They also disclosed that Chhattisgarh cadres, especially women, faced ongoing physical, psychological, and sexual harassment within the group.
The surrendered members will be rehabilitated under the existing government surrender and rehabilitation policies. IG Lal urged remaining Maoists to abandon violence and reintegrate into society, asserting the state government’s commitment to eradicating the Maoist threat and indicating plans for more aggressive action in the future.
