India, May 27 -- A Maoist commander from Chhattisgarh carrying a cash reward of Rs.4 lakh, surrendered before the Odisha Police on Tuesday, police said.

Bijaya Punem alias Ajay, a prominent area commander from Batigudem village in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, surrendered before the Rayagada superintendent of police (SP) Swathy S Kumar on Tuesday. Punem handed over to police a 9mm pistol and eight cartridges during his surrender.

"He surrendered due to rude and abnormal behaviour of leadership, frequent operations by security forces in their operating areas, insufficient food, water and cloth, tough terrain in Odisha, no recruitment and active support from public in and around their jurisdiction area," said Rayagada SP Swathy S Kumar...