Bhubaneswar/Phulbani, February 26 A wanted Maoist leader is alleged to have killed his commander, Anwesh, who carried a reward of Rs 22 lakh on his head, because Anwesh was planning to surrender to the Odisha Police, a senior officer said.
Police in the Kandhamal district exhumed the decomposed body of Anwesh, also known as Renu, at the Pakari reserve forest area under the Daringbadi police station limits, on Wednesday.
He was allegedly killed by the notorious Naxal leader, Sukru, on January 29.
"It has been ascertained that Anwesh was killed by Sukru and his associates when the former was preparing to surrender to the Odisha Police along with other Maoist cadres," Kandhamal SP Harish BC told
Anwesh, who was originally from Sukma in neighboring Chhattisgarh, was a divisional committee member (DVCM) and military platoon commander of the KKBN (Kalahandi-Kandhamal-Boudh-Nayagarh) Division, and he carried a bounty of Rs 22 lakh on his head, police said.
The SP said the body was exhumed following strict legal protocols in the presence of the executive magistrate.
"Anwesh's decision to surrender was opposed by the leadership. It is believed that Sukru, a State Zonal Committee Member (SZCM), carried out the murder with the assistance of DVCM Sila and ACM (area committee member) Jagesh," he said.
Jagesh was neutralized in an exchange of fire with security forces on February 22 in the Nandabali Reserve Forest area in Kandhamal district.
Top officials involved in anti-Naxal operations in Odisha said that the incident highlights the internal conflicts within Maoist groups over surrendering to the police.