RAYAGADA (PRATIPHALAN MEDIA )
Odisha Police have achieved a major breakthrough in their ongoing anti-Maoist operations, with 15 Maoists, including a top Maoist couple, surrendering in Rayagada.
Addressing a press conference, Odisha Intelligence ADG Sanjeeb Panda said that five districts of the state—Nuapada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur and Boudh—have already been declared Maoist-free. He added that Rayagada, Kalahandi and Kandhamal districts are expected to be freed from Maoist influence by the end of March. Odisha, he asserted, is on track to meet the Union Home Minister’s target of making the state completely Maoist-free by March 31, 2026.
Among those who surrendered are hardcore Maoists and state committee members Nikhil and Indu, considered one of Odisha’s top Maoist couples. They, along with 13 others—Vikash, Sundar, Pradeep, Roshni, Aruna, Nande, Nikita, Kumari, Deepak, Rakesh, Lalit, Raje and Malati—laid down arms before the police in Rayagada. A total reward of ₹1.98 crore had been announced on the surrendered Maoists, while Nikhil and Indu alone carried a bounty of ₹1.10 crore.
The surrendered cadres were active in the Basadhara–Ghumusar–Nagabali division and were operating from the Niyamgiri foothills, where they managed the Baghuna division. They stated that they had renounced violence and decided to join the mainstream, expressing their intention to work for the protection of water, land and forests through democratic means.
The surrender has dealt a significant blow to Maoist networks in Odisha. ADG Panda further announced that Rayagada district has now effectively become Maoist-free.
The Maoists also handed over a large cache of arms and ammunition, including two AK-47 rifles, five SLRs, one Sten gun, one INSAS rifle, one rifle and live ammunition.
Several senior officials were present at the press conference, including IG Operations Dr Deepak Kumar, CRPF IG Amitendranath Sinha, South-West DIG Kanwar Vishal Singh, DIG SIW Akhilesh Singh, Rayagada SP Swati S Kumar, Kalahandi SP Debraj Nagar Konda, Kandhamal SP Harish BC, and Rayagada Collector Ashutosh Kulkarni, among others.