Bhawanipatna (Odisha), March 15 Eleven Maoists, including a Divisional Committee Member (DCM), carrying a reward of Rs 22 lakh, surrendered to the Odisha Police in the Kalahandi district on Sunday, an official said.
The Maoists surrendered and handed over their weapons to Odisha DGP Y B Khurania, ADG (anti-naxal operation) Sanjeeb Panda, and other senior officers at a special function in the Kalahandi district headquarters here, the official said.
The 11 Maoists, including Divisional Committee member (DCM) Nakul, belong to the BGN (Bansadhara, Ghumsar, Nagavali) division of the outlawed CPI(Maoist).
While Nakul, a native of Maharashtra, was carrying a reward of 22 lakh on his head as DCM of the Odisha State Committee, the other 10 hail from Chhattisgarh.
The 11-member Maoist group consisted of 1 DCM, 5 Area Committee Members (ACM), and 5 party members (PM). Together, they are carrying a reward of over Rs 63 lakh.
Addressing the gathering, DGP Khurania said that the surrender of Maoists reflects the steady weakening influence of left-wing extremist ideology in the region. He said that sustained operations by security forces have led to the erosion of the Maoist base in the region.
"All surrendered Maoists will be provided with the benefits under the state government's surrender and rehabilitation policy, including financial assistance and vocational training to help them reintegrate into society with dignity," the DGP said.
So far, the districts of Nuapada, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Koraput, Boudh, and Bolangir have been made Maoist-free. "The Odisha Police is committed to making Odisha Maoist-free by March 31, 2026," the DGP said.
ADG (Anti-Naxal Operations) Sanjeeb Panda said that the surrender of 11 Maoists is a major step towards achieving the target set by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to eliminate Maoists from the country by March 31.
"After the surrender of 11 Maoists on Sunday, the state now has only about 15 red rebels, including State Committee Member (SCM) Sukru, hiding in Kandhamal district," Panda said, adding that operations will be further intensified to apprehend the remaining Maoists active in the state.
The ADG said that the 11 surrendered Maoists will receive compensation of over Rs 1.23 crore, including additional cash compensation of Rs 60 lakh.
They have surrendered 11 weapons, including 1 AK-47, 1 INSAS, 4 SLR rifles, 4 single-shot rifles, one 12 bore gun, a large quantity of ammunition, and other articles. They will receive about Rs 10 lakh for the weapons, he said.
The 11-member group was operating in the BGN Division and were active in the districts of Kalahandi, Rayagada, and Kandhamal.
Panda said that after the killing of Central Committee Member (CCM) Ganesh Uike in Kandhamal in December 2025 and continuous sustained operations, the Maoists were demoralized and decided to surrender and join the mainstream.
Panda said that Maoist activities are now limited to the border areas of the Kandhamal district. "Operations will be intensified in the coming days involving SOG, DVF, CRPF, and BSF in the border areas of Kandhamal, Kalahandi, and Rayagada districts," the ADG said.