Bhubaneswar:Inspired by the development works carried out by the State Government and its Rehabilitation Policy, more than 500 active Maoist supporters and sympathizers of Swabhiman Anchal on Monday joined the mainstream in Malkangiri district.
The active Maoist sympathizers of villages Dabal Pahad, Ralegada, Chintalduli, Korrapalli, Tekpadar, Palankrayi, Tatipahad, Eskapalli, Sarukabandha, Durgam, Banajholi, Chikatpalli, Jajpalli, Gajalmamidi, Sitapalli of Ralegada GP under Papermetla police station of Malkangiri district surrendered before Malkangiri police at Janbai BSF camp in presence of SP Nitesh Wadhwani and DIG, BSF, Malkangiri.
The surrendered militias/supporters exhibited their opposition towards the Maoist ideology by burning the dress materials of Maoists and demolishing the Maoist Martyr Pillar and gave slogans “Maobadi Murdabad” before a large group of media before surrendering.
All these villages are located in the Odisha-AP border and was the erstwhile stronghold of Maoists. Swabhiman Anchal has seen maximum violence over the last two decades. These Maoist Supporters used to assist the Maoists in violent activities and were involved in killing of security forces, civilians & were supplying all logistics to them, the Malkangiri police said.
Swabhiman Anchal was considered as a Liberated Zone and Maoists ran Janatana Sarkar there. 37 Greyhound jawans, 7 BSF personnel, 4 Odisha Police personnel and 40 innocent local tribals were killed by the Maoists. Thousands of local villagers had to leave the area out of fear.
Swabhiman Anchal, comprising 9 GPs and 182 villages, which was safe haven of Maoists of Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC) of the CPI (Maoist) for more than 2 decades, is undergoing fast turnaround.
With the construction of Gurupriya bridge and special developmental packages of the State Government coupled with the strategic deployment of Security Forces inspired the villagers to join the mainstream.
The Gurupriya Bridge was inaugurated by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in 2018 which heralded the series of developmental activities like construction of new roads, bridges, project to supply drinking water, electricity to all the houses of the area.
Medical facilities like boat Ambulance and 112 Ambulance services have been started. Many roads and bridges have been completed. Pisciculture has started in a big way. Many boats have been given to GPs to operate for transportation. Mobile towers installation has been taken up on priority basis.
Earlier on June 2 this year, 50 active hard core Maoist supporters had surrendered before DGP, Odisha and on June 11, 397 Maoist supporters had surrendered before Malkangiri police & BSF at Jantri BSF Camp and joined mainstream.