Growing disillusionment with the Maoist ideology and sexual torture on cadres besides extortion tactics by red rebels drove two women Maoists to give up arms and return to the mainstream in Odisha, a senior police official said on Tuesday.

Both the Left wing extremists- Manisha Thati (21) and Champa Koram Sajanti (22) , are of Chhattisgarh origin. They were active members of Mahanadi Area Committee of Kalahandi- Kandhamal- Boudh- Nayagarh (KKBN) division of outlawed CPI (Maoist).

They have decided to return to the mainstream as ”they were exasperated with deviation from ideology and torture on women cadres”, said Inspector General of Police (southern range), Jai Narayan Pankaj.

Top Naxal leaders had assigned them the task to reactivate the North-South corridor from Jharkhand to Chhattisgarh through south-centre Odisha.

They were working in CPI (Maoist) organisation since 2018 and were involved in several violent incidents both in Chhattisgarh and Odisha.

The women naxals, who surrendered, confided that they were disturbed over the unethical activities in Maoist organisations including sexual harassment of female cadres, extortion of funds through intimidation and induction of youths in the organisation by false promise and propaganda, the senior officer added.

The senior Maoist outfit leaders were rude to the lower rank cadres. Besides, they encouraged the lower cadres towards cannabis cultivation and trade, disruption of electoral processes.

After the completion of the legal process, the two Naxals will be rehabilitated under the policy of rehabilitating left-wing extremists. They will receive government assistance in accordance with rehabilitation policy applicable for Maoists who join the mainstream.

Developmental initiatives of the state government inspired the surrendered Naxal cadres to join the mainstream.

Around 12 of Chhattisgarhi Naxal cadres have fled from their hideout camps in the past two months. ”We are trying to establish contact with them. From the intelligence feedback received, it has become an established fact that Maoists are thoroughly involved in narcotics trade and other extortion activities,” the official said.

“We appeal to the Maoist to shun violence and join the mainstream society and partake in the process of development and tribal upliftment. The anti-Maoist operation will be further intensified in the affected areas till the LWE activities are completely stamped out from the state”, IGP, Southern Range, Pankaj concluded.