MALKANGIRI: A top Maoist couple, each carrying a cash reward of `2 lakh on their heads, surrendered before Malkangiri Superintendent of Police Jagmohan Meena here on Friday. Bijal Kadme (26) and his wife Soni Oyam alias Nande (23) were wanted for their involvement in a series of offences across Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
A native of Pedakarme village under Ganglur police limits in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, the couple faced ill-treatment at the hands of senior cadres of the organisation, Meena said, adding that the surrender and rehabilitation policy of the State Government prompted them to join the mainstream.
A member of Central Reorganisation Committee (CRC) of CPI (Maoist) in Chhattisgarh, Bijal joined the outfit in Ganglur Local Organsing Squad (LOS) in 2008 and was later transferred to the 2nd CRC.
He was arrested in 2012 and was in jail for four years. When Bijal was released in 2016, he rejoined the party after being instigated by some senior leaders.
The 26-year-old rebel was accused of killing contractor PK Swain of Govindpalli, blasting Govindpalli police outpost and attacking CISF base at Damanjodi (all in 2009). Besides, he was also charged with murder of a home guard under Annavaram police station limits and Mukram ambush in Chintalnar area (both in Andhra Pradesh) in which 76 CRPF personnel died in 2010.
His wife Nande joined Ganglur LOS in Chhattisgarh in 2009 and later shifted to 2nd CRC in 2010. She too was involved in several incidents of violence such as Darakonda tower blasting under Sileru police limits, killing of Bishu Kirshani and Rama Madkami of Sudhakonda village under Kalimela police limits earlier this year, attack on police vehicle in Koraput in 2011 in which four police personnel were killed apart from several exchanges of fire, police said.
Under surrender and rehabilitation policy, the duo would be entitled to financial assistance to purchase homestead land, construct house, pursue studies and vocational training, Meena added.