Top Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda today pooh poohed the reported news of his plan to surrender before the Odisha police. In an audio message sent to mediapersons, Sabyasachi Panda, who was holding the secretary of the Odisha State Organising Committee of the CPI-Maoist, has now identified himself as the Secretary of Odisha Maovadi Party and ruled out surrender before the police.
Earlier some newspapers speculated that Sabyasachi might surrender and join the mainstream as he had been sidelined by the Andhra Pradesh cadre of the CPI(Maoist) and the size of his supporters in the Naxalite group had significantly reduced. In the tape Sabyasachi demanded the release of Arati Majhi, a Maoist cadre arrested by police sometime back and punishment to cops who had allegedly ‘ raped her.’ He has also demanded a compensation of Rs10 lakh to families of each child killed in the collapse of the Anganwadi centre in Ranapur in Nayagarh district and Rs 3 lakh for each children injured in the incident. Seven children were killed and eight others injured when the wall of Suansahi Anganwadi centre collapsed on July nine last. The Maoist leader also demanded a hike in minimum wages for farm labourers and workers. UNI