In Odisha, How Surrendered Maoists Are Taking The Path Of Reform

Malkangiri: Maoists suffered their biggest loss in Malkangiri district on Monday, with 27 of them being killed in a joint operation. But compared to police action, more Maoists are succumbing to the peace initiative of the government and the lure of a life without violence.

Last year, at least 26 senior Maoists and over 700 members of their militia surrendered. Outreach programmes and social integration campaigns launched by the local police under the leadership of senior police officer Mitrabhanu Mohapatra has led to an increase in surrenders.

Standing next to the cache of ammunition recovered after Monday's operation, 25-year-old Bhima alias Rusi clicks pictures of the AK47s, SLRs. It was a reminder of the life he had quit. "I have used all of these ammunitions," he said softly.

Bhima was only 15 when he was inducted in a Maoist group as a Jan-militia member. "They would come to the village and hold meetings, brain wash the young and call themselves our future," he recalled.

After just two years of training, he conducted his first operation, killing two people. In seven years of being a part of the Maoist group, he transitioned from a teenager to a senior position.

In 2014, he and his then fiance Nangi Kunjami -- a member in the same group -- decided to give up arms. They surrendered in April 2014 to Odisha police in Malkangiri.

Bhima is now a Home Guard with the Odisha Police encourages other militias in the area to surrender.

"My wife and I were often asked to kill innocent people and it didn't feel right. We decided to raise a family that doesn't live under the shadow of this terror. So we both quit together," said Bhima.

The rugged and remote terrain with over 153 villages clustered beyond the Chitrakonda reservoir provides a safe hideout to Maoists in Malkangiri. The lack of access, education and development has led to many youths from these villages to join various Maoist groups.

'Malkangiri is a tri-junction of Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha and makes it easy for Maoists to escape from one state to the other. The dense forest and lack of communication makes it difficult for us to infiltrate their strongholds as well as their minds," said Mr Mohapatra.