A Dongria Kondh woman from the Niyamgiri area of Odisha, Rasmita Sikoka alias Kuni (20), alleged to be a Maoist cadre with a reward of ₹1 lakh on her head, surrendered along with five other alleged Maoist militias on Wednesday, Rayagada police claimed.
But the Maoist identity of the woman as well as her surrender has caused a controversy. She is the daughter-in-law of Dadhi Pusika (62), a leading activist of the Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti (NSS). She is also the niece of another key NSS activist Lada Sikoka.
The tribals of the Niyamgiri hills spread over the Rayagada and Kalahandi districts have been resisting mining in the region under the banner of the NSS since 2003.
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The police say Ms. Sikoka was an armed cadre of the Niyamgiri Dalam of Maoists and was involved in several incidents of Maoist violence.
But the claims of police were challenged by social activists and organisations.They allege that Ms. Sikoka had been taken away from her in-laws’ home at the Gorata village at around midnight on May 1.