Malkanigri, Odisha:
Three weeks after her husband surrendered before the police, a woman Maoist leader, involved in many crimes in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, followed suit in Malkangiri district today.
Thirty-year-old Nirmala alias Nande Sodi, 'Deputy Commander of Poplur and Kalimela Naxal Dalam', surrendered to the Deputy Inspector General of Police (South-Western Range), Sunabeda, Soumendra Priyadarshi.
The Maoist leader who belongs to Kurup village in the district, was drafted as a cadre about 10 years ago, Superintendent of Police Aniruddha Singh said.
Nirmala's husband Prabin, who was Commander of 'Poplur Naxal Dalam', had surrendered before the police on April 4.
Nirmala said that the Maoists had deviated from their basic ideology. Besides, there was strong ill-feeling, particularly in cadres from outside Odisha.
Nirmala would be rehabilitated as per the package provided by the Odisha government for surrendered Maoists, Mr Priyadarshi said.