Woman Maoist, aide apprehended in joint operation in Odisha’s Nabarangpur

Nabarangpur: A female Maoist cadre and her aide were apprehended by a joint operation of SOG and DVF personnel and CRPF from Hatigaon Reserve Forest under Raighar police limits of Odisha’s Nabarangpur district here today. They were identified as Poje Mandavi alias Anita (25) and Samudra Bagh (32)  of Mainpur Nuapada Division. Anita belonged to Motodi village in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh and Bagh a native of Nangalbod in Sinapali block of Nuapada district here.

Addressing mediapersons, Odisha Police informed that a combing operation was carried out by security forces basing on intelligence input regarding two suspected Maoists at Kusumpur village in Raighar today. The special Anti-Naxal operation was launched by engaging a naka in the jungle area of Hatigaon reserve forest during which a suspected Maoist militia and and Maoist cadre were apprehended. Later after their identities were established, the duo was found to have been involved in many cases of violence in Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Kalahandi and neighbouring Chhattisgarh. It was found that Anita had joined the Maoist group in 2010 and was working as a party member of Bodchatia LOS prior to her joining Mainpur Nuapada Division. She was influenced by Bal Sanghatan under Ungi. She was promoted as ACM in 2020 and has been active since 2013.

Bagh had joined the Maoists in 2017 and has been active ever since as a militia of Mainpur Nuapada Division. He reportedly provided information and other inputs to the extremists, a police release stated.