Angul: Two hardcore Maoists working in the Sundargarh-Deogarh-Sambalpur division of the CPI Maoist and active in Satkosia sanctuary Sunday surrendered before Angul superintendent of police (SP) Brijesh Rai.
Police identified the Maoists as Khusbu Jerai (18) and Sukuram Purthy (18) of West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand. The state government has announced a bounty of Rs 2 lakh on each of them.
Rai said the duo joined a Maoist camp in 2012 and were imparted three months of arms training. They decided to surrender and join the mainstream after they were frustrated and disillusioned with Maoist ideology.
Police said both of them were active in Satkosia since 2015.They were mainly working as recruiters and providing logistics support to the cadres.
Both of them were involved in five incidents of exchange of fire between security forces in Satkosia, Chhendipada and Handapa and also involved in violent activities in Tikarara and Chutkei in 2015 and 2016, the police said.
The SP said both the Maoists were recruited from their village by Jharkhand cadres on the promise of good food and other things but in practice nothing was available to them rather they were exploited and discriminated against.
Rai said the police will launch an operation based on the information provided by the two surrendered Maoists.
“They have thrown light on many things about the Maoist sympathisers in Satkosia. They are being verified and appropriate action will be taken,” the SP said. PNN