Rourkela: A day after state director general of police Y B Khurania appealed to the Maoists to surrender before the centre’s deadline of March 31, a 19-year-old woman rebel surrendered before Rourkela police on Monday.Mongri Hunanga, a member of the local guerrilla squad of the CPI(Maoist)’s South Chotanagra division, hails from Holomuli village under Chotanagra police station in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district.Police said her village lies inside the Saranda Reserve Forest, an area frequently accessed by Maoist cadres for supplies. Through local logistic providers, she came in contact with one Anmol, alias Sushant, who recruited her, along with others, said police.Hunanga, along with two others, had been in hiding after an encounter between security forces and Maoists in Kumdihi forest On Jan 21. Rourkela police later traced her and established contact. Disillusioned with the Maoist ideology, troubled by physical and mental harassment, and influenced by Odisha’s surrender policy and continued security operations, she decided to give up arms.Police said she was involved in several offences, including the Banko stone quarry loot and a railway IED blast, and was part of Anmol’s team.Brijesh Kumar Rai, DIG (western range), said her surrender reflects the impact of sustained security pressure and rehabilitation initiatives.“Under the Odisha govt’s revised surrender and rehabilitation policy, Hunanga will be eligible for financial assistance of Rs 2.65 lakh, along with other benefits to support her reintegration,” Rai said.Rourkela SP Nitesh Wadhwani urged other Maoists to abandon violence and join the mainstream, assuring that the administration will ensure their rehabilitation.
