3 women Maoists arrested in Odisha’s Malkangiri district: Police

Police said that on getting sight of security forces, many Maoists fled, but they managed to apprehend three women cadres

Updated on: Dec 28, 2024, 20:52:52 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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Three women Maoists carrying rewards of ₹8 lakh on their heads were arrested from the forests of Malkangiri in Odisha on Saturday.

Police said that the arrested Maoists were planning to undertake a covert operation. (Representational image)

Police officials said the arrested women Maoists are Swapna alias Chandrama Khilo, Babita alias Kamala Khilo and Sunita Khilo. They hail from Dhakadapadar village under Jodambo police limits.

Niti Shekhar, deputy inspector general of police, South Western Range, said Swapna was carrying cash reward of ₹4 lakh. She joined the Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC) in 2018 and was working in the banned outfit’s military platoon.

Babita joined AOBSZC in 2021 and was working in the Uday Protection team. She was carrying cash reward of ₹2 lakh. Sunita joined the Maoist group in 2021 and was carrying reward of ₹2 lakh.

The DIG said the arrested Maoists were planning to undertake a covert operation. “We received information about suspected movement in the area and verified the information by conducting a visit. On getting sight of security forces, many individuals fled, but we managed to apprehend three women, who are now being detained for questioning,” said the DIG.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More