Rayagada :- In a significant development, a hardcore Maoist leader, identified as Vijay Punem alias Ajay, has surrendered to the Rayagada Superintendent of Police (SP) with arms and ammunition. The Maoist, who was wanted in several cases of violence in Odisha, had a reward of Rs 4 lakh on his head. According to sources, Vijay, a resident of Batiguda village in Chhattisgarh, had been active in the Basadhara-Ghumusar-Nagabali division and was involved in various Naxalite violence cases in Rayagada, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Boudh, Kandhamal, and other districts. He had joined the Naxalite organization in 2009 and rose through the ranks to become an Area Committee Member (ACM) in 2014 and later a cadre in charge of the Basadhara-Ghumusar-Nagabali division in 2024. Vijay surrendered to the Rayagada SP, Swathi S, with a 9mm pistol, 8 live rounds of ammunition, a wristwatch, and a mobile phone. The SP assured him of rehabilitation and benefits under the government’s Naxalite rehabilitation policy. The Maoist leader expressed his willingness to persuade his wife and other associates to surrender, marking a significant breakthrough in the state’s efforts to curb Naxalite activities. The surrender is seen as a major success for the state’s anti-Naxalite operations, which have been intensified in recent times. The Rayagada SP’s office has confirmed that Vijay’s surrender is a result of the state’s efforts to provide a safe and secure environment for Maoists to surrender and reintegrate into mainstream society. The development is expected to have a positive impact on the region, which has been affected by Naxalite violence for years.
Maoist Leader Surrenders to Rayagada SP with Arms and Ammunition
