Maoists Face Major Blow as Four Surrender in Kandhamal, Odisha’s Last Bastion

Four Maoists, including three women from Chhattisgarh, surrendered before the police in Odisha’s Kandhamal district on Friday, dealing what officials described as a significant blow to left-wing extremism in the region. The surrender took place amid intensified counter-insurgency efforts and as the Centre’s deadline to end Maoist violence approaches.

Police identified the surrendered cadres as Ganga Kunjami, alias Jiten (24); Muchaki Mase, alias Sumitra (23); Chomali Kunjam, alias Santila (21); and Bandi Madvi, alias Malati (22). They hailed from the Sukma, Bijapur, and Dantewada districts of Chhattisgarh and were active in the Kandhamal–Kalahandi–Bolangir–Nuapara division of Odisha. The four laid down arms, including a self-loading rifle (SLR) and a .303 rifle.

According to the police, the surrendered Maoists were involved in at least 17 criminal cases registered in Kandhamal district. Ganga Kunjami, who joined the Maoist movement in 2018 and shifted to Kandhamal in 2021, was named in six cases. Muchaki Mase was allegedly involved in eight cases, while Chomali Kunjam and Bandi Madvi were linked to three cases each.

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Officials said the four carried a cumulative cash reward of ₹10.6 lakh on their heads, which they will now be eligible to receive under the state government’s surrender and rehabilitation policy. Inspector General of Police Niti Sekhar said the surrender marked a major setback for Maoists in Kandhamal, considered their last stronghold in Odisha.

He added that districts such as Malkangiri, Koraput, Nuapara, and Nabarangpur have already been declared Maoist-free following a series of surrenders this year. The state has intensified operations alongside rehabilitation efforts to encourage more cadres to abandon violence.

Under the rehabilitation policy, each surrendered Maoist was immediately provided ₹25,000 and will receive housing under the Antyodaya Gruha Yojana, along with a one-time marriage incentive of ₹25,000. They will also be enrolled in short-term skill development programs free of cost and paid a monthly stipend of ₹10,000 during training for up to three years, officials said.

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