Kandhamal Operation: 6 Naxals Dead, Arms Seized
Kandhamal (Odisha): In a major intelligence-driven operation in the dense forests of Kandhamal district, security forces have neutralised six Maoist operatives, including Ganesh Uike, a senior Central Committee member of the CPI (Maoist) with a bounty of approximately ₹1.2 crore. The encounter, confirmed by the Union Home Ministry and Odisha Police today, marks a significant milestone in India’s efforts to make Odisha Naxal-free.
The operation, conducted in the Chakapad and Belgharh forest areas, involved coordinated action by the Odisha Police Special Operations Group (SOG) alongside CRPF and BSF units. Ganesh Uike, a key strategist and organiser of Maoist activities in Odisha, was among the six cadres neutralised, which reportedly included female operatives. Weapons recovered included INSAS rifles, .303 rifles, and other equipment, disrupting the operational capabilities of Maoist units in the region.
This operation is the culmination of a year-long, intelligence-driven anti-Naxal campaign in Kandhamal and surrounding forests, with security forces conducting regular combing operations and targeted interventions. While multiple operations were undertaken throughout the year, specific details of these earlier actions have not been publicly released, and the December 25 engagement remains the only fully verified encounter with confirmed results.
The Ministry of Home Affairs today highlighted the significance of the operation, stating:
“In a significant milestone towards Naxal-free Bharat, 6 Naxalites, including Central Committee Member Ganesh Uike, have been neutralised so far in a major operation in Kandhmal, Odisha. 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.”
Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the Home Minister’s Office reinforced the message on ‘X’, framing the encounter as part of a sustained, intelligence-led campaign with the goal of achieving a fully Naxal-free Odisha by March 2026.
Odisha has witnessed a gradual decline in Maoist influence, with several districts already declared Naxal-free. Kandhamal, historically affected, remained a focus of sustained operations due to its strategic importance for CPI (Maoist) networks. Security forces continue intelligence-driven combing, multi-agency coordination, and community engagement to consolidate gains and prevent resurgence.
The neutralisation of Ganesh Uike and five other cadres represents both a tactical and symbolic victory, significantly disrupting Maoist leadership, planning, and recruitment in Odisha. Analysts note that this operation, combined with previous but unverified interventions, positions Kandhamal on the threshold of achieving Naxal-free status by March 2026, demonstrating the effectiveness of persistent, multi-agency anti-insurgency strategies.
– global bihari bureau
