Five Maoists including State Committee Member Sukru @ Kosa Sodi Surrendered BeforeSanjeeb Panda, ADG (Anti-Naxal Operations), Odisha at Phulbani.

Bhubaneswar, 29.03.26 ( P N S )In a major boost to anti maoist efforts in the state, 5 hardcore Maoists formally surrenderedbefore Shri Sanjeeb Panda, IPS, ADG (Anti-Naxal Operations), Sri Niti Sekhar, IG SouthernRange, Berhempur, Dr Deepak Kumar, IG Operations, Sri Akhileshvar Singh, DIG SIW, SriDalip Amresh, DIG CRPF, Sri Ved Bhushan, Collector Kandhamal, Sri Harisha BC, SPKandhamal at a special function held at the Reserve Police Lines, Phulbani.During the programme, the surrendered Maoists voluntarily laid down their arms and handedover their weapons to Sri Panda, symbolising their decision to renounce violence and rejoin themainstream of society.Addressing the gathering, Shri Sanjeeb Panda, IPS, stated that the surrender of five Maoistsincluding the State Committee Member Kosa Sodi @Sukru reflects the steadily weakeninginfluence of maoist movement in the state. He emphasized that sustained intelligence-basedoperation by SOG, DVF, CRPF, BSF has eroded the base of maoists.Panda specially lauded the efforts of Dr Deepak Kumar, IG Operations, Shri Akhileshvar Singh,DIG SIW, Sri Harisha, SP Kandhamal.He assured that all surrendered Maoists would be extended the benefits under the StateGovernment’s Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy, including financial assistance, vocationaltraining to help them reintegrate into society with dignity.Sukru, a native of Malkangiri is carrying rewards of 55 lakh as State Committee Member ofOdisha State Committee of CPI maoist and other four are party members.Together they are carrying reward of Rupees sixty six lakh. Altogether they will receivecompensation of about 83 Lakhs including additional cash compensation of Rs 10 lakhs andabout 7 lakhs for arms.They have surrendered five weapons including 1 AK-47, 1 SLR, 2 no .303 rifle, 1 single shotand huge quantity of ammunition.The group was operating in KKBN Division in Kandhamal district.Sukru a native of Malkangiri district of had joined maoists organisation in 1997 and he wasactive in BGN and KKBN area from the year 2007.After the killing of Central Committee Member Ganesh Uike in Kandhamal in December 2025and continous & sustained operations, the maoists were demoralized and decided to surrender& join mainstream.After this surrender, the number of armed cadres operating in Odisha has come down to singledigit of approximately 8-9 and their activity is limited to few pockets of Kandhamal only.The operation will be intensified in the coming days involving SOG,DVF, CRPF and BSF inKandhamal district.The function was attended by Sri Niti Sekhar, IG SR Berhampur, Dr Deepak Kumar, IPS IGoperation, Sri Akhileshvar Singh, DIG,Sri Dalip Ambresh, DIG CRPF, Sri Ved Bhushan, Collector Kandhamal, Sri Harish BC, SP,Kandhamal.So far Nuapada, Nawarangpur. Malkangiri, Koraput, Boudh, Bolangir, Rayagada andKalahandi districts have become completely naxal free.Odisha Police is committed to make Odisha Naxal free by 31st March 2026.ADG Panda appealed to other Maoists to shun violence and surrender before police, assuringthem all possible assistance as per surrender policy.