Maoist active on Odisha-Jharkhand border surrenders

Reported by Malay Ray
Rourkela, Apr 10:

A hard-core armed Maoist cadre involved in series of violent incidents in Odisha and neighbouring Jharkhand , surrendered before police here on Friday. He  was active as an armed cadre in the Saranda forest area from 2007 to 2012.

Shankar Munda alias Johan Barla (27) surrendered in the presence of Additional SP Bonei R.B.Panigrahi and CRPF Assistant commandant Rakesh Sharma. Sources said Shankar was involved in a series of incidents of Maoist violence in Tholkabad and Dhiga area of Jhakrkhand and bordering villages under Saranda village area of Odisha.

He however had a change of mind after seeing exploitation to the tribal cadres in the Maoist organisation and had distanced himself from the Maoist organisation since 2012. He finally surrendered before police on Friday.

“He will be extended all possible cooperation by us to bring him back to the mainstream,” said RB Panigrahi, Additional SP, Bonei.