Bhubaneswar, Oct. 28: Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh (CMAS) leader, Nachika Linga, surrendered today before the police. His surrender comes four months after top Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda was arrested from Berhampur.

Confirming the development, director general of police, Sanjeev Marik, said: “Linga has surrendered before the police at Narayanpatna, which happens to be his native place.” However, he refused to give other details.

Wanted in 28 cases, Linga had a number of warrants pending against him. Police had turned the heat on the CMAS leader who rose into prominence with the support of the Maoists, following the arrest of Panda.

The CMAS had captured acres of land belonging to non-tribal landlords in Naryanpatna and Bandhugaon in Koraput district. Sustained police operation has severely limited the operations of Linga, who fearing imminent arrest, had been making only occasional appearances at public meetings. Sources said that he was also scared of being given away by one of his followers, something that is quite usual among Maoists and their sympathisers.

The CMAS has been spearheading a violent campaign against the non-tribal landlords of Narayanpatna and Bandhugaon by capturing and tilling their land by force.

During the past three years, the CMAS cadres had captured around 1000 acres of land owned by the area’s non-tribal gentry with the use of sheer force. For them, it was a logical progression of their class struggle as they saw the well-heeled non-tribal land owners as sworn enemies who had made money by exploiting the tribals.

The Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh has always accused non-tribal landlords of grabbing tribal land with the connivance of corrupt officials and turning tribals into landless farm labourers. Linga’s had become a major challenge for the police and security forces in the area.

“With his surrender, we can breathe easy now,” said an official.