Maoist leader kills commander over surrender plot

A Maoist leader allegedly murdered his commander to stop him from surrendering to Odisha police, exposing deep rifts within the Naxal group.

Arms seized from Maoists in Kandhamal

IMAGE: A security person inspects the arms, ammunition and other belongings recovered from two Maoists after an exchange of fire with security personnel, Kandhamal, Odisha, Februrary 23, 2026. Photograph: ANI Video Grab

Key Points

A Maoist leader, Sukru, allegedly killed his commander, Anwesh, to prevent him from surrendering to the Odisha Police.
Anwesh, a divisional committee member with a Rs 22 lakh bounty, was reportedly planning to surrender with other Maoist cadres.
The murder highlights internal conflicts within Maoist groups regarding surrendering to authorities.
The body of Anwesh was exhumed from a forest area in Kandhamal district following legal protocols.
Another Maoist member, Jagesh, believed to be involved in the murder, was killed in an exchange of fire with security forces.

The police in Kandhamal district on Wednesday exhumed the decomposed body of Anwesh, alias Renu, at Pakari reserve forest area under Daringbadi police station limits.

He was allegedly killed by notorious Naxal leader Sukru on January 29.

"It has been ascertained that Anwesh was killed by Sukru and his associates when the former was preparing to surrender before the Odisha police along with some other Maoist cadre," Kandhamal SP Harish BC told PTI over phone.

Carried a bounty of Rs 22 lakh

Anwesh, a native of Sukma in neighbouring Chhattisgarh, was a divisional committee member (DVCM) and military platoon commander of the KKBN (Kalahandi-Kandhamal-Boudh-Nayagarh) Division, and he carried a bounty of Rs 22 lakh on his head, the police said.

The SP said the body was exhumed following strict legal protocols in the presence of the executive magistrate.

"Answesh's move to surrender was opposed by the leadership. The murder is believed to have been executed by SZCM (State Zonal Committee Member) Sukru, with the assistance of DVCM Sila and ACM (area committee member) Jagesh," he said.

Jagesh was neutralised in an exchange of fire with security forces on February 22 in the Nandabali Reserve Forest area in Kandhamal district.

Internal Conflicts Exposed

Top officials engaged in anti-naxal operations in Odisha said that the incident exposes the internal conflicts within Maoist groups over surrendering before the police.