Eight Maoist militia including three self-styled commanders surrendered before the Malkangiri Police on Wednesday. They were working as aides of top Maoist leader Madhav but there are cases against them in police records yet. In the outfit, they were instrumental in mobilising people to the meetings conducted by the Maoist leaders.
The three commanders are Raghu Hantal, Patra Hantal and Iswar Hantal, all from Allampeka village in the cut-off region of the district. The others were identified as Gangadhar Khara of Kurupdar village under Chitrakonda police limits, Sarathi Hantal and Gobi Khilla of Totaguda village under Joadamba police limits, Chandra Khara and Trinath Hantal of Tunudumadi village.
Aged between 22 and 40 years, all of them had joined the militia under Gumma cut-off area dalam in 2009, Anti-Maoist Cell inspector Abinash Reddy said .
Raghu said it was increasingly becoming risky for them to work for Maoists with the police and BSF intensifying the anti-Maoist operation in the cut-off region. “We were forced to join the militia in 2009 as the Maoists threatened us with dire consequences if we didn’t. We now want to lead a peaceful life,” said Patra.