Earlier, the Chitrakonda cutoff region in the district was a hotbed of Maoist activities, where even the police forces were finding it tough to combat the rebels due to inhospitable terrain and lack of vehicular communications.
But after the opening of the Gurupriya Bridge, gradually the BSF and police forces are having an upper hand and the Red rebels are on the back foot.
This was proved when a hardcore woman Maoist surrendered before the police on Friday. The surrendered Maoist was identified as Nayana Khilo (19) of Chitrakonda area in the district. Khilo quit the CPI (Maoist) fold due to the Gurupriya bridge which facilitated establishment of Jantapayi camp of BSF and their frequent movement in the areas, police sources said.
She saw the developmental activities and realised the futility of the violent approach of Maoists. Further, she did not like the activities of CPI (Maoist) cadres like Dhanjaya Gope who is a womaniser and involved in many brutal killings, the sources added.
Khilo was carrying a cash reward of Rs one lakh on her head. She was allegedly involved in torching vehicles engaged in road construction near Mudulipada in 2017 and exchange of fire with security forces on several occasions.