Naxalite Swarnakka Surrenders To Police In Mulugu

50-year-old Swarnakka, alias Swarna, a former member of the banned CPI Maoist party's National Park Area Committee, today surrendered before Mulugu district SP Dr P Shabarish.

A resident of Potteeru village in the Malkangiri district of Odisha, Swarnakka expressed her desire to lead a peaceful life with her family, saying that she realized the futility of Maoist ideologies.

Swarna had joined the Maoist ranks in 2000, encouraged by Kalimela Area Committee Commander Ramanna. She initially served in the Protection Team led by Chattiraja Papayya alias Somanna for three years, and then with Ginugu Narasimha Reddy alias Jampanna for five years. During her involvement Swarnakka participated in two significant encounters in 2005 - one in Karnagandi in the Rampur forest, resulting in the deaths of two Maoists, and another at Lingalagutta alias Paladhara Gutta, where one Maoist was killed.

In 2006, Swarnakka married Kurasa Sayanna alias Jagat, a member of the Maoist group. She was promoted to Area Committee Member in 2008, and later joined the National Park Area Committee in 2015. After her husband's death in a 2017 encounter Swarnakka's mental and physical health deteriorated. She however continued serving in various roles until she decided to surrender.

During the event, an appeal was made by the police to other Maoist members to follow her lead and surrender, with assurances of government rehabilitation and support.

The surrender event was attended by DSP N Ravinder (Incharge OSD of Mulugu) and Assistant Commandant M Srinivas of the 39 BN CRPF.