Jajpur, May 2: A week after surrendering before the Jajpur superintendent of police, teenaged Maoist Laba Badra has pleaded before the district authorities to help him pursue studies in an established institution. During his deposition before the screening committee, this 15-year-old tribal boy, formerly a Class VII student at Kalinga Nagar, expressed his desire to continue studies.

“Laba has expressed his desire for further study particularly at Kalinga Institute of Social Science (KISS) in Bhubaneswar. I have contacted KISS authorities regarding his admission,” said Jajpur collector Pramod Kumar Mohanty.

A surrendered Maoist has to face a screening committee consisting of district collector, superintendent of police and special branch officer. The district collector records the statement of the surrendered Maoist as to what he or she intended to do after giving up the Maoist path.