A Maoist couple surrendered before the district police here on Tuesday with an aim of joining the social mainstream and leading a normal life.
The surrendered couple was identified as Chhotu Ganjhu alias Dayananda (28) of Ranchi and Jali Dehury alias Amrita (18) of Angul.
Police sources said both fell in love with each other in 2017 after Amrita joined the Maoist organisation. The duo later decided to surrender before police to lead a normal life.
While working for the Red rebels, the two were active in Odisha and Jharkhand border. Dayananda joined the Maoist fold in 2000 and underwent weapons training for a month in Saranda forest of Jharkhand.
He was involved in more than six gun battles with Odisha police. After working for 18 years in the organisation, he realised that the Maoist top leadership had deviated from its original ideology and was exploiting Adivasi and women cadres. Dayananda was carrying a cash reward of Rs 4 lakh on his head.