Bhubaneswar: Odisha is on the verge of being declared free from Maoist activity, with only 13 active Maoist cadres remaining in the state, according to Director General of Police Yogesh Bahadur Khurania. During a press briefing at the Police Bhawan on March 17, Khurania explained that a small group of Maoists continues to operate in the Kandhamal–Kalahandi–Rayagada tri-junction area. “We estimated about 15 members in this group. Two were apprehended yesterday, leaving only 13. I am confident that we will either capture them or they will surrender before the deadline”, he said.
As the March 31 deadline approaches, Odisha Police has intensified efforts to eliminate the Maoist presence in the state. Officials noted that the remaining cadres are led by Sukru, a member of the banned CPI(Maoist) state committee and are confined to remote border areas. The DGP highlighted recent successes in anti-Naxal operations, including the surrender of 11 Maoists in Kalahandi district earlier this week. This group comprised one divisional committee member, five area committee members, and five party members, with a cumulative reward of ₹63.25 lakh.
In a separate development, 10 hardcore Maoists surrendered in Kandhamal district, with a combined bounty exceeding ₹1.5 crore. These surrenders have significantly weakened the Maoist network in the region. Reaffirming the state’s commitment, the DGP expressed confidence that Odisha will achieve its goal of being completely Maoist-free by March 31, 2026, in line with the national objective set by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
“We are confident that the remaining cadres will either be apprehended or surrender before the deadline”, Khurania reiterated. He also emphasized the success of Odisha Police’s ‘Operation Cyber Kavach’, which effectively targets mule bank accounts and fake SIM networks to curb cybercrime. With ongoing operations and increasing surrenders, Odisha appears on track to achieve its goal of becoming a Maoist-free state by the end of March.
Officials attributed the recent surrenders to sustained and coordinated anti-Naxal operations by security forces, including the Special Operations Group(SOG), District Voluntary Force(DVF), Central Reserve Police Force(CRPF) and Border Security Force(BSF). Continuous pressure from these forces has disrupted Maoist operations and weakened their organizational structure.
Police officials noted a decline in the influence of Maoist ideology in the region, as evidenced by the rising number of surrenders. They highlighted the demoralizing impact of the killing of senior Maoist leader Ganesh Uike, a Central Committee member, in an encounter in Kandhamal in December 2025. As a result, many Maoists are now choosing to surrender rather than continue armed struggle. The number of active Maoist cadres in Odisha has sharply decreased over the past few months, from around 25 earlier this month to just 13 now.
Authorities indicated that Maoist activities are now largely confined to limited pockets along the state’s border regions. Several districts, including Nuapada, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Koraput, Boudh and Balangir, have already been declared Maoist-free. With sustained operations, increasing surrenders and effective rehabilitation measures, Odisha is poised to eliminate Maoist influence entirely, marking a significant milestone in its internal security landscape.
