Bhubaneswar: Days after Odisha’s most wanted Maoist leader Sukru allegedly orchestrated the murder of fellow senior cadre Anwesh to prevent his surrender in Jan, he has now reportedly expressed interest in laying down arms himself, police sources confirmed. His plan, however, faces strong resistance from a faction within the CPI (Maoist), largely comprising his junior associates.A native of Malkangiri district, Sukru (49) currently commands a group of around 13 Naxals, mostly from Chhattisgarh, operating in Kandhamal. As a state committee member, he carries a bounty of Rs 55 lakh and remains the most senior active Maoist operative in Odisha.“Until recently, Sukru discouraged cadres from surrendering. But following intensified operations against him and his team, now hiding in Kandhamal’s dense forests, he fears for his own life. Intelligence inputs suggest he is considering surrender, though divisional committee members Sila alias Nagmani and Mamata alias Saite are resisting his move,” a police source revealed.Sukru had allegedly ordered Maoist leader Jagesh to eliminate Anwesh, who was preparing to surrender. Anwesh, a divisional committee member and military platoon commander with a bounty of Rs 27.5 lakh, had been in touch with police and was ready to abandon the armed struggle.“On January 29, Jagesh implemented Sukru’s order and slit Anwesh’s throat and buried the body in Kandhamal forest. The incident came to light after four Maoists, who surrendered on February 6, disclosed the killing,” a senior police officer said. Jagesh and another woman cadre were later killed in an encounter on February 22, and Anwesh’s body was exhumed on February 25.Despite fears that Anwesh’s murder might discourage defections, Odisha police have witnessed a surge in surrenders. Ten Maoists, including state committee member Sanu Pottam alias Nitu, surrendered in Kandhamal on March 11. Days later, on March 15, divisional committee member Nakul led 11 others in Kalahandi to lay down arms, boosting police morale in their sustained campaign against Naxalism.Reaffirming its two-pronged strategy of “surrender or face encounter,” Odisha police aim to eliminate Left-wing extremism by the Centre’s March 31 ‘Naxal-free India’ deadline. ADG (anti-Naxal operations) Sanjeeb Panda said, “We continue to urge Maoists to lay down arms and avail the benefits of the state govt’s surrender and rehabilitation policy.”
