In a resounding success for India’s anti-Naxal campaign, security forces neutralised six Maoists, including senior Central Committee member Ganesh Uike, during a multi-day joint operation in Odisha’s Kandhamal district.
This breakthrough has brought the state to the brink of complete freedom from Naxalism, as highlighted by the Union Home Ministry.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah described the development as a “significant milestone towards Naxal-free Bharat.”
Posting from the Home Minister’s Office on X, he stated: “In a major operation in Kandhmal, Odisha, 6 Naxalites, including Central Committee Member Ganesh Uike, have been neutralized so far. With this major breakthrough, Odisha stands at the threshold of becoming completely free from Naxalism. We are resolved to eliminate Naxalism before the 31st of March 2026.”
A significant milestone towards Naxal-free Bharat.
In a major operation in Kandhmal, Odisha, 6 Naxalites, including Central Committee Member Ganesh Uike, have been neutralized so far.
With this major breakthrough, Odisha stands at the threshold of becoming completely free from…
— Home Minister’s Office, HMO India (@HMOIndia) December 25, 2025
The operation, launched on intelligence inputs, involved 23 teams from Odisha Police’s Special Operations Group (SOG), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Border Security Force (BSF). It spanned forested areas under the Chakapad police station in Kandhamal and the adjoining Rambha forest range in Ganjam district.
Two Maoists were killed in an initial encounter on Wednesday, while four more—including Uike—were neutralised in exchanges of fire on Thursday morning. Weapons recovered include two INSAS rifles and one .303 rifle.
Ganesh Uike, 69, a native of Telangana’s Nalgonda district, was the CPI(Maoist) in-charge for Odisha and carried a bounty of ₹1.1 crore (some reports cite ₹1.2 crore). Operating under aliases like Pakka Hanumantu, Rajesh Tiwari, Chamru, and Rupa, he was a battle-hardened leader with decades of involvement in Maoist activities.
Odisha DGP Y B Khurania called the elimination of a Central Committee member a “big success,” stating it has “broken the backbone of Maoist terror in the state.” Search operations continue in the area.
This operation underscores the intensified efforts under the central government to curb Left-Wing Extremism, with significant reductions in violence and affected districts in recent years.
Odisha’s progress positions it as one of the states closest to achieving full eradication of the menace.
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