Malkangiri declared Maoist-free: Key commander surrenders, security landscape transforms

Koraput: Malkangiri district was declared Maoist-free after an area committee member (ACM) of the banned CPI (Maoist) surrendered before police on Wednesday, signalling a historic turnaround in south Odisha’s security landscape.The surrendered cadre has been identified as Sukhram Markam, 32 alias Suresh alias Yogesh, a commander of the Kangerghati area committee. He also surrendered an SLR rifle, ammunition, IEDs and other Maoist materials.“With sustained security operations and development activities reaching deep into remote areas, Maoist activities have now been contained and we declare the district free from Maoist influence,” said ADG (anti-Naxal operations), Sanjeeb Panda.“However, there is no room for complacency. Forces will remain on high alert and intelligence-based area dominance exercises will continue,” he added.Bordering Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh, Malkangiri witnessed some of the deadliest Maoist attacks — from the 2008 Balimela reservoir ambush, in which the rebels sank a boat carrying Greyhound commandos killing 35 personnel, to the anti-landmine vehicle blast that wiped out 17 security personnel, and the 2011 abduction of then Malkangiri collector R Vineel Krishna from the cut-off area.Long considered a strategic Maoist stronghold, large forest tracts and remote tribal villages in Malkangiri were used as safe havens, with rebels running parallel administrations, enforcing shutdowns, carrying out extortion drives and targeting civilians and security forces.“The surrender of an ACM-rank commander shows how hollow and isolated the Maoist movement has become,” said Malkangiri SP, Vinod Patil. “There is no local support left and the leadership vacuum has weakened the organisation beyond repair,” he added.Police said Sukhram, a native of Sukma district in Chhattisgarh, joined the CPI (Maoist) in 2010 and rose through the hierarchy after training in ideology, weapons handling and guerrilla tactics. He was allegedly involved in several violent incidents across Odisha and Chhattisgarh.Officers said sustained pressure by security forces, the state govt’s surrender-cum-rehabilitation policy and repeated appeals by chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi encouraged Sukhram to return to the mainstream. “He realised that development, dignity and a lawful life offer a better future than violence,” the SP said.Although sporadic Maoist movement was noticed in later years, the last major action in the district was reported on Nov 21, 2024, under MV-79 police station limits, when a rebel was gunned down in an exchange of fire with the district voluntary force.Malkangiri becomes the third district under the south-western range after Nuapada and Nabarangpur to achieve Moaist-free status.“This is not just a security success; it is a victory for peace and development,” said DIG (south-western range), Kanwar Vishal Singh. “We urge the remaining underground cadres in other areas to join the mainstream and lead a dignified life,” he said.