Maoist commander killed by leader over alleged plan to surrender in Odisha News India

New Delhi: A Maoist commander who had a bounty of Rs 22 lakh on his head was allegedly killed by his leader as he planned to surrender to the Odisha police, a senior official said.Anwesh, also known as Renu, a native of Sukma in neighboring Chhattisgarh state, was allegedly killed on January 29 by notorious Naxal leader Sukru.Police said Anvesh was the division committee member (DVCM) and military platoon commander of the KKBN (Kalahandi-Kandhamal-Boudh-Nayagarh) division.His decomposed body was exhumed by the Kandhamal district police from the Pakari forest reserve within the limits of Dalimbadi police station on Wednesday. “It has been established that Anwesh was killed by Sukru and his associates when Anwesh was preparing to surrender to Odisha Police along with some other Maoist cadres,” Kandhamal SP Harish BC told PTI.The body was exhumed following strict legal protocols in the presence of an administrative magistrate, the SP said.“Answesh’s surrender move was opposed by the leadership. The murder is believed to have been carried out by SZCM (state district committee member) Sukru with the assistance of DVCM Sila and ACM (district committee member) Jagesh,” he said.On February 22, Jagesh was killed in an exchange of fire with security forces in Nandabali Forest Reserve in Kandhamal district.Senior officials involved in the anti-Nax operation in Odisha said the incident exposed the internal strife within the Maoist group over the surrender to the police.