Bhubaneswar/Berhampur: Two months after allegedly orchestrating the murder of fellow Maoist leader Anwesh to stop him from surrendering, top Naxal operative Kosa Sodhi, alias Sukru, himself laid down arms along with four associates in Kandhamal district on Tuesday.DGP Y B Khurania described the surrender of Sukru and four members of his protection team with firearms as a significant achievement and in line with the Centre’s target to eliminate left-wing extremism (LWE) by March 31. “The number of Maoists left in Odisha is now only 9 or 10,” Khurania said.
A native of Malkangiri district, Sukru (49) was a special zonal committee member (equivalent to a state committee member) — the second-highest rank in the Maoist hierarchy — and carried a bounty of Rs 55 lakh. Prior to his surrender, he was heading the Kandhamal-Kalahandi-Boudh-Nayagarh (KKBN) division and was in charge of the state military command in the Kandhamal area since 2025.ADG (anti-Naxal operations) Sanjeeb Panda said Sukru’s surrender is very crucial as he was the last senior active Maoist in Odisha following the surrender of Nikhil and Indu on Feb 6. The state police credited the special intelligence wing, special operations group, Kandhamal district police and central armed police force for securing the significant breakthrough.With Sukru’s exit, Odisha is on the verge of being declared Maoist-free. Police sources indicated that an official announcement may come soon. Sukru had been commanding a group of 13-15 cadres along the borders of Kandhamal, Kalahandi and Rayagada districts.“Since the group’s last top leader has surrendered, LWE activities have almost ended in the state. We urge the remaining 9 or 10 lower-rung operatives to surrender or face elimination,” Panda said.Last month, Kandhamal police had registered a murder case against Sukru for allegedly ordering the killing of Anwesh, a divisional committee member, who was carrying a bounty of Rs 27.5 lakh, as he was planning to surrender. On Jan 29, Maoist leader Jagesh executed the order, slitting Anwesh’s throat and burying the body in Kandhamal’s forest.The incident came to light after four Maoists surrendered in Kandhamal on Feb 6 and informed the cops about the murder. Jagesh and a woman cadre were later killed in an encounter in Kandhamal on Feb 22, and Anwesh’s body was exhumed on Feb 25.
