Maoist surrenders

PARLAKHEMUNDI: A female Maoist cadre on Wednesday surrendered before Gajapati SP Sarthak Sarangi. The cadre, Tabita Malik alias Priti (18) hails from Jamugunda village under Adaba police limits in the district.Tabita, inducted into Maoist outfit under the supervision of Azad in 2009, was subsequently shifted to Ghumusar division and working under Nikhil before her surrender. She was involved in the killing of a panchayat samiti member of Srirampur in Kotagad block of Kandhamal district and exchange of fire with police in Gopinathpur and Narayanpur and Khadinga, Sarangi said.Tabita told mediapersons that she was neglected, exploited and not allowed to marry as per her choice. Quoting Tabita, Sarangi said she was pressurised to deal with tribals. Recently Maoist leaders in the area were preparing to marry her off to Sunil, a Maoist from Chhattisgarh, forcing her to surrender. Sarangi said Tabita would be provided the benefits as per the rehabilitation policy.