Malkangiri, Sept 16: A senior Maoist leader with a bounty of ₹8 lakh on her head surrendered before the Gariaband police near the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border, officials confirmed on Monday.

The surrendered insurgent has been identified as Janasi alias Bachela Matami, wife of slain Maoist commander Satyam Gawade. A native of Maharashtra, Janasi had been associated with Maoist activities since 2005, holding key positions within the banned outfit over the years.

According to police sources, she began her career in the Maoist ranks handling press and propaganda, later climbing the hierarchy to serve as a zonal committee member, deputy commander, commander, and most recently, as the secretary of the Nagari area committee.

In 2011, she married Satyam Gawade, a senior divisional committee member (DVCM). The duo was actively involved in Maoist operations in the Mainpur division for several years. Despite Gawade’s death in an encounter in 2014, Janasi continued to remain active in the organization and led multiple violent operations, particularly after taking over as area secretary in 2022.

During her surrender, Janasi reportedly cited disillusionment with the organization’s weakening ideology, increasing pressure from intensified security operations, and personal loneliness following her husband’s death as key reasons for laying down arms.

Police officials stated that she will be rehabilitated in accordance with the government’s surrender and rehabilitation policy for former Maoists.

Her surrender is being seen as a significant setback for Maoist activities in the interior border regions of Odisha and Chhattisgarh, where insurgency has persisted for decades.