Phulbani: In a major breakthrough for internal security and counter-insurgency efforts, the Odisha Police and central security forces successfully neutralized six Maoist operatives, including a high-ranking Central Committee Member, during a series of high-stakes encounters in the Kandhamal district on December 24 and 25, 2025.
This operation is being hailed as a historic success and a decisive blow to the backbone of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) organization in the State of Odisha.
The meticulously planned operation was spearheaded by Shri Sanjeeb Panda, Additional Director General (ADG) for Anti-Maoist Operations, who served as the overall team leader for the Mission. On the ground, the tactical execution was led by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Operations, Dr. Deepak Kumar.
The success of the Mission was predicated on high-quality intelligence inputs provided by the Special Intelligence Wing (SIW) under the direction of Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) Shri Akhileswar Singh.
Crucial ground-level coordination and tactical supervision were provided by Kandhamal Superintendent of Police (SP) Shri Harish B C, whose leadership of the local units ensured the precise localization of the insurgent groups.
Acting on these specific inputs, a massive joint task force was mobilized, consisting of 23 specialized teams. These included 20 units of the Odisha Police Special Operations Group (SOG), two battalions from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and a contingent from the Border Security Force (BSF). The first phase of the encounter began on the night of December 24 in the Gumma forest area under Belghar police limits, resulting in the elimination of two cadres. The following morning, the operation shifted to the dense forests of the Chakapad police station area near the Rambha forest range on the Ganjam-Kandhamal border, where four additional Maoists were neutralized in a fierce exchange of fire.
The most significant outcome of the operation was the elimination of 69-year-old Ganesh Uike, also known as Pakka Hanumantu. Uike was a member of the powerful Central Committee of the CPI (Maoist) and served as the chief of operations for the organization in Odisha. Carrying a combined bounty of Rs.1.1 crore on his head.
Maoist Uike was a veteran strategist originally from Telangana who had been active for over four decades. His death, along with five other cadres including Rajni, Seema, and Umesh, represents the first time in recent years that a Maoist leader of such high rank has been eliminated in the state.
Following the encounter, security forces conducted an intensive search of the area, recovering a significant cache of weaponry including two INSAS rifles, a .303 rifle, and various communication devices. The details of the breakthrough were shared during a media briefing attended by IGP CRPF Shri Amitendra Nath Sinha and other senior officials.
The Anti Maoist Operations leadership emphasized that this success significantly advances the state’s goal of becoming completely free of Left-Wing Extremism by the national deadline of March 31, 2026.
The impact of this operation resonated at the highest levels of the Union Government. Union Minister of Home Affairs Shri Amit Shah expressed his satisfaction via the X platform, describing the breakthrough as a significant milestone toward a Naxal-free India.
This coordinated effort led by Tough Cop Shri Sanjeeb Panda, with the critical tactical support of SP Kandhamal, Shri Harish B C and central forces, is being viewed as a turning point that has effectively crippled the Maoist leadership structure in Odisha, paving the way for lasting peace in the region.