Representative image (ANI)

NEW DELHI: A Maoist commander, carrying a reward of Rs 22 lakh on his head, was allegedly killed by his leader for intending to surrender to the Odisha Police, a senior officer said.Anwesh, alias Renu, a native of Sukma in neighbouring Chhattisgarh, was allegedly killed by notorious Naxal leader Sukru on January 29.Anwesh was a divisional committee member (DVCM) and military platoon commander of the KKBN (Kalahandi-Kandhamal-Boudh-Nayagarh) Division, police said.Police in Kandhamal district on Wednesday exhumed his decomposed body from the Pakari reserve forest area under Daringbadi police station limits. “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.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.Top officials engaged in anti-naxal operations in Odisha said the incident exposes internal conflicts within Maoist groups over surrendering before the police.