BHUBANESWAR: In one of the most significant blows to Maoist leadership in recent years, senior Maoist Central Committee member Ganesh Uike, who carried a cumulative bounty of Rs 1.10 crore, was killed in an encounter with security forces in Odisha’s Kandhamal district. In two separate encounters carried out as part of intensified counter-insurgency operations, a total of six armed Maoists were neutralised, officials confirmed on Thursday.
The operations, described by security agencies as intelligence-driven and highly coordinated, mark a major breakthrough in Odisha’s long-running fight against Maosim and are being viewed as a decisive step towards making the state and the country Naxal-free.
Two Encounters in Kandhamal
According to police sources, the first encounter occurred in the Guma forest area under the jurisdiction of the Belghar police station. During a combing operation based on specific intelligence inputs, security forces engaged a group of Maoist cadres, resulting in the deaths of two operatives. Both were armed and were attempting to evade the forces by using the dense forest cover.
The second and more decisive encounter occurred later the same day in the Chakapada police station area of Kandhamal district. During this exchange of fire, four Maoists were killed, including top leader Ganesh Uike. Two of the four Maoists neutralised in this encounter were women cadres, officials said.
Joint teams comprising the Special Operations Group (SOG), District Voluntary Force (DVF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Border Security Force (BSF) were involved in the operation. The encounter took place during a search-and-combing exercise launched after security agencies received credible intelligence about the movement of senior Maoist leaders in the forested region.
Profile of Ganesh Uike
Ganesh Uike, aged around 69, was one of the most wanted Maoist leaders operating in eastern and southern India. A senior member of the Maoist Central Committee and a top commander of the banned CPI (Maoist), Uike carried a cumulative reward of Rs 1 crore 10 lakh announced by various states.
A native of Nalgonda district in Telangana, Uike had been operating in Odisha for several years and held major leadership responsibilities in the state. Security officials said he played a pivotal role in planning, coordinating and executing armed Maoist activities across Odisha, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Uike was allegedly instrumental in strengthening the Maoist network by facilitating recruitment into the armed wing, mobilising local cadres, and coordinating logistics and supplies. He was also linked to multiple incidents of violence across the three states and had managed to evade security forces for a prolonged period, making him a high-value target in counter-insurgency operations.
Senior security officials are describing his elimination as a major setback to the top command structure of the outlawed organisation.
Earlier Encounter Details
Police said the latest operation followed an encounter a day earlier in the same district. On Wednesday, two Maoist operatives carrying a combined bounty of Rs 23.65 lakh were killed in an exchange of fire with security forces in the Guma forest area under Belghar police station limits.
The deceased were identified as Bari alias Rakesh, an Area Committee Member of Rayagada under the Bansadhara-Ghumsar-Nagabali (BGN) division and a native of Sukma district, and Amrit, a member of the Supply Dalam who hailed from Bijapur district. Bari was carrying a reward of Rs 22 lakh, while Amrit had a bounty of Rs 1.65 lakh on his head.
Search Operations Continue
Officials said search and combing operations are continuing in the Kandhamal region to ensure complete sanitisation of the area. Security forces remain on high alert, given the possibility of additional Maoist cadres in nearby forest pockets.
The region has remained under sustained surveillance due to repeated Maoist movements and past incidents of violence. Security agencies said the current operations are part of an intensified push against Maoist activities following a series of intelligence inputs suggesting regrouping attempts by armed cadres.
“Backbone of Maoists Broken”: DGP
Reacting to the development, Odisha Director General of Police (DGP) Y.B. Khurania said the Maoist network in the state has suffered a crippling blow following the elimination of top leader Ganesh Uike. Describing the encounter as a decisive success, the DGP said the killing of a senior Central Committee member has dealt a severe setback to the operational and leadership structure of the Maoist organisation.
The DGP confirmed that four Maoists, including Ganesh, were killed in the recent encounter and reiterated that search operations are still underway. He said eliminating Maoism from Odisha by March 2026 remains a key objective of the state police and security agencies.
He also highlighted that Odisha’s surrender and rehabilitation policy for Maoists is among the most effective in the country, and appealed to remaining cadres to abandon violence and join the mainstream.
Home Ministry Hails Major Milestone
The Union Home Ministry also termed the operation a “significant milestone” in the mission to make India Naxal-free. In a social media post, the Office of the Union Home Minister stated that six Naxalites, including Central Committee member Ganesh Uike, have been neutralised so far in a major anti-Naxal operation in Kandhamal district.
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…
— गृहमंत्री कार्यालय, HMO India (@HMOIndia) December 25, 2025
The ministry said that with this major breakthrough, Odisha stands at the threshold of being completely free of Naxalism and reaffirmed the government’s resolve to eliminate it from the country by March 31, 2026.
Chief Minister Lauds Security Forces
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi described the operation as a major and decisive success in the mission to build a Naxal-free India. In a social media post, he congratulated the security forces for their indomitable courage, professional efficiency and excellent coordination.
ନକ୍ସଲମୁକ୍ତ ଭାରତ ଗଠନ ଅଭିଯାନରେ ଆଜି ଓଡ଼ିଶା ଏକ ଉଲ୍ଲେଖନୀୟ ସଫଳତା ହାସଲ କରିଛି। କନ୍ଧମାଳ ଜିଲ୍ଲାରେ ଚାଲୁଥିବା ମିଳିତ ଅପରେସନରେ ନକ୍ସଲ କେନ୍ଦ୍ରୀୟ କମିଟି ସଦସ୍ୟ ଗଣେଶ ଉଇକେ ସମେତ ୬ ଜଣ ନକ୍ସଲବାଦୀ ନିହତ ହୋଇଛନ୍ତି।
ଆମର ସାହସୀ ସୁରକ୍ଷାକର୍ମୀଙ୍କ ଅଦମ୍ୟ ସାହସ ଓ ସଠିକ ସମନ୍ୱୟ ପାଇଁ ମୁଁ ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ସାଧୁବାଦ ଜଣାଉଛି।…
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) December 25, 2025
The Chief Minister said the successful operation has further strengthened the state government’s commitment to eradicating Naxalism from Odisha. He noted that, with this breakthrough, the state is now on the threshold of being entirely free of Maoist violence.
Emphasising the government’s priorities, CM Majhi said the state’s overall development and the safety of its people remain paramount, adding that peace and progress will define Odisha’s future.
A Turning Point in Anti-Maoist Campaign
Security experts believe the elimination of a senior leader like Ganesh Uike could mark a turning point in Odisha’s anti-Maoist campaign. With sustained intelligence-based operations, improved coordination among security forces, and an effective surrender policy, authorities say the Maoist movement in the state is steadily losing ground.
As operations continue across sensitive districts, officials remain confident that the recent successes will accelerate the process of restoring lasting peace and stability in regions long affected by Red Terror.
