Top Maoist leader Ganesh Uike, who carried reward of Rs 1.1 crore, killed in Kandhamal encounter in Odisha

By Samira Vishwas On Dec 25, 2025

Bhubaneswar: Six Maoists, including a senior leader of the banned CPI (Maoist), were killed in a series of encounters with security forces in Odisha’s Kandhamal district, police confirmed on Thursday. The operation is being described as one of the state’s most significant anti-Naxal successes in recent years.

Ganesh Uike, a central committee member of CPI (Maoist) and the organisation’s Odisha chief, was among those killed. Uike, who carried a reward of Rs 1.1 crore, was considered one of the most influential Maoist leaders operating in the region. According to police, he was known by multiple aliases, including Pakka Hanumantu, Rajesh Tiwari, Chamru and Rupa, and hailed from Telangana’s Nalgonda district.

#WATCH | Bhubaneswar: Top Maoist leader Ganesh Uike, carrying Rs1.1 crore bounty, killed in encounter
Odisha DGP Yogesh Bahadur Khurania says, “A major anti-Naxal joint operation is underway on the border of Ganjam district. This morning, the Odisha Police and security forces… pic.twitter.com/nF8uNwLktb
— ANI (@ANI) December 25, 2025

The first exchange of fire took place on Wednesday night in the Gumma forest area under the Belghar police station limits, where two Maoists from Chhattisgarh were killed. Fresh encounters erupted early Thursday in the Chakapad police station area, resulting in the deaths of four more rebels, including Uike.

Police said the identities of three of the Maoists killed on Thursday, two of whom were women, are yet to be confirmed. Security forces recovered multiple firearms from the encounter sites, including two INSAS rifles and a .303 rifle.

Director General of Police Y B Khurania said the elimination of a central committee member was a major breakthrough. He stated that the operation had dealt a severe blow to Maoist leadership in Odisha and reaffirmed the state’s commitment to achieving the Centre’s goal of eradicating Left-wing extremism by March 2026.

The offensive was launched following intelligence inputs and involved 23 teams, including personnel from Odisha Police’s Special Operations Group, the CRPF and the BSF. The joint forces carried out coordinated search and combing operations along the Kandhamal-Ganjam inter-district border, where Maoist activity has remained a concern.

Odisha DGP Yogesh Bahadur Khurania stold YEARS“A major anti-Naxal joint operation is underway on the border of Ganjam district. This morning, the Odisha Police and security forces achieved a major success, eliminating four Naxals, including Ganesh Uike, a member of the Central Committee. He was the head of all Maoist operations in Odisha. The security forces have neutralised him today, and I believe this has broken the backbone of the Maoist terror in Odisha and will bring about a significant change in the Maoist situation in the state.

He added, “Following the call given by Union Home Minister Modi to end Maoism by March 2026, the Odisha Police is working with full dedication to achieve this objective as quickly as possible, and I am fully confident that they will succeed.”

Officials said the Maoists killed on Wednesday night were identified as Bari alias Rakesh, an area committee member, and Amrit, a dalam member. Both carried a combined bounty of over Rs 23 lakh.

The encounters came just days after 22 Maoists surrendered before police in neighbouring Malkangiri district, highlighting growing pressure on insurgent groups in the region.