A Maoist couple hailing from Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh surrendered before Malkangiri Superintendent of Police Jagmohan Meena in Odisha on Friday.
The Odisha government had declared a reward of ₹2 lakh for capture of each of the surrendered Naxalites — Bijal Kadme (26) and Soni Oyam (23). Lured by “better rehabilitation package” for surrendering Maoists in Odisha, they decided to lay down their arms in Malkangiri, said Mr. Meena.
The couple was a part of the military wing of the outlawed CPI(Maoist) organisation. They were involved in Maoist activities in parts of Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh. There are more than 17 cases of violence, ranging from Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blasts to murders, registered against them in Odisha and Chhattisgarh, said the police.
“I left the outfit as its leaders are harassing people, extorting money from them and working for their own interest. They claim that they are fighting for the tribals but instead are killing them by branding them police informers,” said Mr. Kadme. The couple now wants to lead normal life.
Financial assistance
Under the surrender and rehabilitation policy of Odisha, the couple would be provided financial assistance to purchase homestead land, construct house and pursue education or vocational training, said Mr. Meena.
According to the police, Mr. Kadme was involved in the IED blast at Annavaram police station in Andhra Pradesh in May this year in which a home guard was killed. He was also involved in a landmine blast near Srirampur in Kandhamal district of Odisha in January 2012 in which three policemen had died.
Ms. Oyame was a part of the Naxalite group that triggered an IED blast targeting a police vehicle in Koraput district in 2011 that killed four policemen.
Mr. Kadme had joined the Maoists in 2008 and Ms. Oyame in 2009. They hailed from Pedakarme village in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh. The duo alleged that the Maoist organisation as well as its leaders had deviated from their original ideology and were involved in atrocities on tribals. “Both cited miserable condition of low-rank cadres in the Naxalite organisation and alleged that senior cadres were self-centred with no concern for their problems,” said the SP.
