Woman Maoist carrying Rs.100,000 reward surrenders

Bhubaneswar, May 23 (IANS) A woman Maoist, carrying a reward of Rs.100,000 on her head, surrendered before the Odisha police Friday, an officer said.

Sandhaya alias Shivabati, 22, surrendered along with a gun at the district headquarters town of Nabarangpur about 570 km from Bhubaneswar," Inspector General of Police (south-western range) Yashwant Jethwa told IANS.

"Sandhya, a resident of Bhutenga village in Gariabandh district in neighbouring Chhattisgarh state, was involved in Maoist violence in Chhattisgarh and bordering Odisha," Jethwa said.

"She joined the Maoists organisation in 2010 and was an armed cadre of the Gobra Dalam of the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist. The Odisha government had announced a cash reward of one lakh rupees for information regarding her.

"Her surrender is likely to give a set back the Maoists activities near Chhattisgarh-Odisha border. She has urged other cadres to leave the Maoist fold and surrender," he added.

Nabarangpur is considered to be one of the strongholds of Maoists in this state.