Maoist surrenders after hubby's arrest

KORAPUT: A woman Maoist, Deva Padiami alias Sandhya, surrendered in Malkangiri district on Saturday, while two others were arrested in neighbouring Koraput during a combing operation.
Wife of Andhra Odisha Border State Zonal Committee chief strategist Anil Kumar, who was recently arrested in Koraput, Sandhya, 30, carried a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh on her head.
"She was demoralized after her husband's arrest and did not feel safe in the organization," said IG (south-west range) Yashwant Jethwa, quoting Sandhya.On February 1, a special team of Koraput police had arrested Kumar in a forest under Pottangi police limits.
According to SP (Malkangiri) Akhileswar Singh, Sandhya had joined the outlawed CPI (Maoist) 16 years ago and was involved in several Red offensives, including Koraput armoury attack in 2004, R Udayagiri sub-jail attack in 2006 and Nalco mines attack at Damanjodi in 2009. She is a native of Kurub village under Kalimela police limits in Malkangiri.
"She was a divisional committee member and heading Boipariguda area committee and Gupteswar local squad. She was instrumental in setting up base at Ramagiri, Gupteswar and Boipariguda in Koraput and in areas, bordering Malkangiri," the SP said. She would be rehabilitated in tune with the state government's surrender policy, he added.
In Koraput, police arrested two women Maoists, Hita Kendruka and Sangita Mandangiri, during a combing operation in Chintaguda forest under Narayanpatna police limits. "They were armed cadres and involved in several offensives. They are being interrogated," said SP (Koraput) Awinash Kumar.