Six Maoists surrender in Odisha

MALKANGIRI(Odisha):Six Maoists, involved in several naxal operations, surrendered before the police in Odisha's Malkangiri district today "due to disillusionment with rebel activities."

The Maoists, who surrendered before the SP, were involved in a number of offences including blasting of pipeline of a private steel company, blowing up of several buildings, loot and extortions for the last five years, Malkangiri Superintendent of Police Akhileswar Singh said.

All the six Maoists belong to Ranginiguda and Raleguda areas, he said.

They were also engaged in collection of information, organising meetings in remote villages and carrying messages of Maoist leaders, they said.

They were identified as Raju Hentala (43), Bhanja Hentala (35), Purushottam Khara (27), Rupa Khila (42), Tripati Khara (25) and Gopinath Pangi (28), the SP said.

The surrendered rebels said they decided to return to the mainstream to lead a normal life after realising that the Maoists had deviated from their ideology.

Moreover, they suffered discrimination and ill-treatment by senior leaders, they said.