Bhubaneswar:Over 700 active Maoists supporters including 300 militia of Malkangiri district surrendered on Saturday, DGP office sources said.
They surrendered before DIG (South Western Range) Rajesh Pandit, Malkangiri SP Nitesh Wadhwani, BSF DIG Madan Lal and Jagdish Dalai at Andhrahal BSF camp in Malkangiri district.
The Maoist supporters belonged to villages of Andhral GP under Mudulipada Police station of Khairput block of Malkangiri district and Padalput Kusumput,Matamput and Jodigumma villages of Rangel GP under Munchingput Police station of Alluri Sitharam Raju district of Andhra Pradesh.
All these villages were located in the Odisha -Andhra Pradesh border, the erstwhile stronghold of Maoists.
These Maoists supporters used to assist the Red rebels in the violent activities and were involved in killing of security forces, civilians and supplying logistics to them.
They exhibited their opposition towards the Maoist ideology by burning the dress materials and effigies of Maoists and raised slogans ‘’ Maobadi Muradabad Ama Sarkar Jindabad,’’ before surrendering.
Developmental initiatives of the Odisha government coupled with strategic deployment of security personnel inspired the Maoist supporters to join the mainstream, Police said.
A series of developmental works like construction of new roads, bridges, medical facilities, installation of mobile towers, projects to supply drinking water , electricity to all the houses of the area motivated them to join mainstream .
Earlier on June 2 last 50 hard core Maoist supporters had surrendered before Odisha DGP and on June 11 last 347 Maoists supporters had surrendered before the Malkangiri Police and BSF at Jantri BSF camp.
On August 22 last also 550 Maoist supporters had surrendered before Malkangiri police and BSF at Janabai BSF campDGP office sources said this had created a huge impact and many more are considering ‘’Ghar wapsi’’( home return) in future.(UNI)