Kanhu Dehurio, a top cadre Maoist leader and zonal secretary for Sambalpur-Deogarh-Sundargarh(SDS) division on Friday surrendered before Sambalpur police.
“Kunu was the zonal secretary for the SDS (Sambalpur-Deogarh-Sundargarh) division and was engaging youths in Maoists activities. But being disgusted with the attitude of the senior Red rebel leaders he decided to surrender before the police,” Sambalpur Superintendent of police Sanjeev Arora told newsmen here.
Mr Arora said Kanhu belonged to Naktideul-Jujomura area of the district where the first Maoists activities began in this region as an outcome of resentment against the Jujomura police.
The SP said as many as 51 cases of grievous nature are pending against Kunu and he was carrying a . cash reward of Rs. 8.00 lakh on his head . The surrendered Red rebel was one of the most wanted Maoist of the state having networks in neighbouring states too,” he added The Maoist leader said he realized that the Maoists have no ideology now and are involved in extorting money from the industrialists and businessmen.
He said while the senior Maoist leaders and enjoying life other people in the group are suffering in the dense forest at the cost of their lives.The lady cadres are also being sexually exploited. “.
Mr Arora said the case of Kunu Dehuri would be placed before the rehabilitation security committee of the state and a report would be prepared so that he could be resettled as per the provisions of the government.
“At the same time he will remain under police custody instead of judicial custody as per the surrender guideline,” the SP said “With arrest of top cadre, Maoists activities in the zone received a big jolt and and the Maoists activities in the region will also suffer to a great extent It needs mention that Kunu Dehuri and Gobardhan Budek were two hard core Maoists of the district.
While Kunu surrendered on Friday, Gobardhan is believed to have left the organization and living outside of Odisha.
Director General of Police (DGP) R P Sharma said Dehuri was spearheading the Maoist activities in Sambalpur,Deogarh and Sundargarh districts besides adjoining areas of Rourkela and Angul districts.
He said the surrender of Dehuri is a major achievement of the Odisha Police adding that the Maoist activity in the SDS area would bound to be weakened. The police, the DGP had been tracking his movement for quite some time in SDS Division and he surrendered before the police as he had lost faith in the Maoist ideologies.
