A wanted Maoist, who carried a reward of Rs 1 lakh on his head has surrendered in Malkangiri, Odisha.
25-year-old Mesha Muschhaki surrendered before Malkangiri district Collector D Prasantakumar Reddy and Superintendent of Police Mitrabhanu Mohapatra.
Along with Mesha, several villagers from Silakota village in Podia area also surrendered before the police and district administration. The villagers confessed that they had to support the Maoists out of fear. The villagers also decided to surrender after realising that development work in their area was being hampered by Naxal activities.
Mohapatra said, “Mesha was closely involved with Maoist activities in Podia area over the last 5 years. He was involved in several criminal activities like murder, landmine blasts, explosions at various buildings etc.
“The villagers also took a pledge that they would stop supporting the red rebels in any manner henceforth and work for the development of their area.”
Collector Reddy assured the villagers that development work would be accelerated in the village which would soon be transformed into a ‘model’ village.
