Odisha Police urges Covid-19 positive Maoists to surrender, assures free treatment

As Covid spreads in Naxal ranks, the Odisha Police on Wednesday appealed to Maoist leaders to surrender and benefit from the state government's rehabilitation policy.

Following reports that 10 Maoists had allegedly died of Covid-19 in Bastar in neighbouring Chhattisgarh in the last two weeks, Odisha Police on Wednesday appealed to Maoist leaders to surrender and benefit from the state government's rehabilitation policy. Talking to India Today, Malkangiri Police SP Rishikesh D Khilari said, "We have received relevant information that some of the top Maoist cadres in the Dantewada district of neighbouring Chhattisgarh are infected with Covid-19. Some of them have respiratory problems and are unable to move.”