ANGUL: Two love-struck Maoist cadres gave up arms before Angul police on Tuesday to lead a normal life.They were identified as 27-year-old Dayananda alias Chhotu Ganju, a section commander of Sambalpur-Deogarh-Sundargarh (SDS) division, and his beloved 22-year-old Jali Dehuri. While Chhotu belonged to Ranchi of Jharkhand, Jali hails from Majhipara village within Purunakote police limits in Angul. Chhotu carried a reward of `4 lakh on his head.
Briefing the media, SP Mitrabhanu Mahapatra said Chhotu, who was recruited by the Maoists in early 2010, is involved in several incidents of violence including Chaibasa jailbreak. In 2014, he joined the SDS unit and has more than 15 cases of fire exchange with security forces in Rourkela, Boudh, Kalahandi and Satkosia pending against him. Jali joined the banned outfit at Satkosia in 2102 and was not an armed cadre. She was involved in recruitment not of cadres. Reportedly, both Chhotu and Jali fell in love and decided to part ways with the rebels.
“We were disillusioned with the Maoist ideology after witnessing innocents being tortured and killed by the Naxals. We were told that Maoists are for poor and for the protection of women but in reality they kill innocent men and torture women. So we were disillusioned with the outfit and decided to leave,” said Chhotu. The surrendered Maoist couple will be rehabilitated as per the law, the SP added.