Koraput Declared 'Naxal-Free' After Maoist Surrender; Odisha Police Hails Milestone

• Odisha Police declared Koraput district 'naxal-free' following the surrender of CPI (Maoist) area committee member Mamata Podiami (Mamita/Soni).
• Mamata Podiami, 26, from Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, carried a bounty of Rs 5.5 lakh and surrendered with an SLR rifle.
• She will receive Rs 5.5 lakh bounty, Rs 1.65 lakh for the weapon, and benefits under the state’s rehabilitation policy.
• DGP Y B Khurania urged remaining Maoist cadres to surrender, assuring full support and assistance for their reintegration into society.
• Koraput is the fourth district in the south-western police range, after Malkangiri, Nuapada, and Nabarangpur, to achieve 'naxal-free' status.