Nikhil’s parents feared for his life before surrender

Kendrapada: Parents and close relatives of top Maoist leader Niranjan Rout alias Nikhil, of Tentulibelari village in Jagatsinghpur district were elated after Nikhil, along with his wife, Rasmita Lenka, alias Indu, surrendered on Thursday before police in Rayagada. Niranjan’s parents had recently urged their son to lay down arms, and he complied with their request.

Surrender of the Maoist couple, who carried a combined bounty of Rs 1.1 crore (Rs 55 lakh each), is considered a massive setback for the Maoist movement in southern Odisha. Narahari Rout, 75, and his wife Saraswati, 73, were delighted after their son and daughter-in-law renounced violence and decided to join the mainstream.


“We were very worried about his life, as recently police gunned down many Maoists. We do not want our son to meet the same fate,” said Saraswati, Nikhil’s mother.

“My son was studying in Plus II in Goda College in 2009, when he left the village and never returned. We were shocked when 10 years ago, police informed us that our son had joined the Maoists,” said Narahari.

The news about his surrender spread like wildfire in the native village. Joyous tears rolled down the cheeks of Nikhil’s parents, when they watched their son’s interview on sundry TV channels recently before his surrender.

“We are happy that Niranjan, alias Nikhli, left the Maoist organisation and decided to join the mainstream. Niranjan’s parents get old-age pensions and rice from the govt. They are poor farmers,” said Pratima Mahuri, the sarpanch of Kusupur gram panchayat.

“We oscillated between hope, despair and confusion since the day he vanished from the village. Now, we are quite happy at his surrender. We are eagerly waiting his arrival in the village. My brother’s name is Niranjan Rout but he is known as Nikhili by police and other Maoists,” said Trilochan, Niranjan’s younger brother.