57 Maoists surrender before police in Odisha

In a fresh jolt to the Naxals in Odisha, 57 Maoist sympathisers, including 11 militia and two village committee members, today surrendered before the police in Malkangiri district.

The rebel supporters of Maoists' Kalimela and Padia Dalam units surrendered before the police with a pledge to join the mainstream, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (Malkangiri), Madkar Sandeep Sampad said.

Those who surrendered were members of Andhra Odisha Zonal Committee Division of the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist, he said, adding they were all residents of Tangguda village under Chitrangapalli Panchayat.

Among the 57, 11 are militia members and two village committee members.

"We welcome the 57 persons. The government will make arrangements for them under the surrender and rehabilitation policy," Sampad said, urging people to shun violence and  join the mainstream for their better future.

The fresh development of naxal supporters giving up the path of violence came a day after surrender of 19 Maoist sympathisers in Mathili area of the district.