Woman Maoist lays down arms

Nalgonda: A 32-year-old woman Maoist, operating along the Andhra Pradesh-Odisha border, surrendered before the police here on Tuesday. Sheikh Jan Bi surrenders before the Superintendent of Police AV Ranganath. She was area-committee member in Odisha's Malkangiri district. She is reportedly suffering ill health for some time.

The woman, carrying a reward of Rs 4 lakh, joined the Maoists in 2004 and worked in different 'dalams' in Telangana before going to Odisha. She was involved in over half-a-dozen firing incidents on the police, the Superintendent of Police said. 

Sheikh Jan Bi  alias Kakka Bujji alias Saritha is the daughter of Sheik Chinna Hussein, a native of Utlapally village under Gurrampode mandal in the district. She was attracted to the left-wing movement. She worked as a member of Kanagal dalam for one year and shifted to Krishnapatte dalam in 2005.

The Superintendent of Police said the woman Maoist member had surrendered herself due to health problems, including gastric disease and malaria fever.

Ranganath said Sheikh Jan Bi also worked in the protection squad of CPI (Maoist) State Secretary Madhav, who was killed in exchange of fire at Sankellagudem in 2006. Later, she was shifted to Andhra Odhisa Border and worked in several areas, including Malkangiri, Narayanapatnam and others as area-committee member.

The woman Maoist had a narrow escape in the exchange of fire with the police in Nallamala forest area in 2006 at Manasa mandal in 2010, at Mangalapuram and Ranganigudem in 2011 and at Thrikapada and Poni Poduri in 2018.

He said the Rs 4 lakh reward carried on her head would be given to her. In addition to extending rehabilitation, medical treatment would also be provided to her, he added.