Naxalism in Odisha / DIG Declares Koraput Maoist-Free Following Surrender of Top Woman Cadre
·1 month ago·2 min read
Key Points
- Koraput district in Odisha declared Maoist-free after a senior woman cadre surrendered.
- Mamata Podiami, an Area Committee Member, surrendered an SLR rifle and ammunition.
- Police cite sustained operations and outreach for the development in the border district.
Koraput, Feb 5: Koraput district has been declared Maoist-free following the surrender of a senior woman Maoist cadre, a senior police official said on Thursday.
The announcement was made by Deputy Inspector General of Police (South Western Range) Kanwar Vishal Singh, after Mamata Podiami, an Area Committee Member (ACM)-rank CPI (Maoist) cadre, surrendered before Koraput Police. Podiami, also known as Mamita and Soni, is a resident of Bijapur district in neighbouring Chhattisgarh.
Police said the surrender marked a significant development in the district’s counter-insurgency efforts. During the surrender, Podiami handed over one Self-Loading Rifle (SLR) along with 10 live rounds of ammunition to the authorities.
Officials said Podiami had been involved in Maoist activities in the region and held the rank of Area Committee Member, a key operational position within the outlawed CPI (Maoist) organisation. Following her surrender, the DIG declared Koraput a Maoist-free district, citing the absence of active armed Maoist presence in the area.
Police described the surrender as a positive outcome of sustained security operations and outreach efforts in Maoist-affected pockets of southern Odisha. The development was also seen as a boost to peace and security initiatives in districts bordering Chhattisgarh, where Maoist activity has historically been reported.
The Koraput Police said the surrendered cadre would be extended benefits under the Odisha government’s rehabilitation policy for former Maoists. The policy provides assistance aimed at helping surrendered cadres reintegrate into mainstream society.
Security officials reiterated that the declaration was based on the current ground situation in Koraput district and said law enforcement agencies would continue monitoring the region to maintain peace and security.
Also Read: Odisha Set to Cash In From India–US Trade Deal, Says CM Majhi
Police added that counter-insurgency operations and coordination with neighbouring states would continue as part of ongoing efforts to prevent any regrouping or movement of Maoist cadres in the border areas.
The announcement was made by Deputy Inspector General of Police (South Western Range) Kanwar Vishal Singh, after Mamata Podiami, an Area Committee Member (ACM)-rank CPI (Maoist) cadre, surrendered before Koraput Police. Podiami, also known as Mamita and Soni, is a resident of Bijapur district in neighbouring Chhattisgarh.
Police said the surrender marked a significant development in the district’s counter-insurgency efforts. During the surrender, Podiami handed over one Self-Loading Rifle (SLR) along with 10 live rounds of ammunition to the authorities.
Officials said Podiami had been involved in Maoist activities in the region and held the rank of Area Committee Member, a key operational position within the outlawed CPI (Maoist) organisation. Following her surrender, the DIG declared Koraput a Maoist-free district, citing the absence of active armed Maoist presence in the area.
Police described the surrender as a positive outcome of sustained security operations and outreach efforts in Maoist-affected pockets of southern Odisha. The development was also seen as a boost to peace and security initiatives in districts bordering Chhattisgarh, where Maoist activity has historically been reported.
The Koraput Police said the surrendered cadre would be extended benefits under the Odisha government’s rehabilitation policy for former Maoists. The policy provides assistance aimed at helping surrendered cadres reintegrate into mainstream society.
Security officials reiterated that the declaration was based on the current ground situation in Koraput district and said law enforcement agencies would continue monitoring the region to maintain peace and security.
Also Read: Odisha Set to Cash In From India–US Trade Deal, Says CM Majhi
Police added that counter-insurgency operations and coordination with neighbouring states would continue as part of ongoing efforts to prevent any regrouping or movement of Maoist cadres in the border areas.
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