Kandhamal, November 16: In a major blow to the clout of the Maoist outfit, a hardcore Maoist couple surrendered in Kandhamal district on Sunday.

The couple - Unga Kalmu alias Kishore and Mase Madvi - of Chhattisgarh surrendered before Southern Range IG Niti Shekhar at the Kandhamal District Police Headquarters in the presence of district SP and other senior police officials. They were active members of the Chhattisgarh of Bansadhara-Ghumsar-Nagabali (BGN) division.

Both the cadres are of Chhattisgarh origin. Their task was to reactivate the North-South corridor from Jharkhand to Chhattisgarh through south-centre Odisha. They both were working in CPI (Maoist) organization since 2018 and were involved in several violent incidents both in Chhattisgarh and Odisha.

According to the police, due to the massive anti-Naxalite operations in interior areas of Kandhamal district cadre, the Maoist couple surrendered before the police to join the mainstream of the society.

IG Niti Shekhar said that the couple would be suitably rehabilitated under the surrender and rehabilitation scheme of the Government, which includes financial assistance, homestead land, house build assistance, education assistance vocational training with monthly stipend and join in the mainstream of society.

“We appeal to all disillusioned cadres who have chosen the wrong path by misleading propaganda, to come forward and surrender before us. The surrender policy of Government of Odisha will help them to lead a normal and happy life in the mainstream,” said the IG.