In a significant blow to left-wing extremism, a top Maoist commander, notorious for orchestrating deadly ambushes against security forces, was eliminated in a carefully executed police operation in Odisha. Ganesh Uike, a member of the CPI (Maoist) Central Committee, was killed along with three associates in the Kandhamal district on Thursday.
The Intelligence Trap That Sealed His Fate
The operation, a masterclass in intelligence gathering, was set into motion in October. Uike had recently assumed charge of the CPI (Maoist) Odisha state committee following the encounter death of his predecessor, Modem Balakrishna, in Chhattisgarh in September. The Odisha police's Special Intelligence Wing (SIW) capitalized on his vulnerability, as intensified anti-Maoist operations in Chhattisgarh had forced him to seek refuge elsewhere.
The breakthrough came when lower-ranking Maoist cadres, who were preparing to surrender, provided crucial details about Uike's movements. Police used this information to craft a deception, sending messages that assured the commander of a "safe atmosphere" within the rugged forests of Kandhamal. Lured by this bait, Uike arrived in the district earlier this month with a small group of foot soldiers and settled in the Chakapada forest area.
The Swift and Decisive Encounter
Acting swiftly on precise intelligence inputs, commandos of the Special Operation Group (SOG), backed by central forces, launched a coordinated strike. The assault was so sudden and precise that it gave the Maoists no opportunity to retaliate. The encounter resulted in the death of four rebels.
Apart from Ganesh Uike, the deceased were identified as women cadres Rajni and Seema, and Umesh. All were members of the CPI (Maoist) and carried individual rewards of Rs 1.65 lakh on their heads. Notably, there were no injuries or casualties among the police personnel. While the exact number of Maoists who might have escaped is unclear, the operation was deemed a clean success.
A Major Setback for Maoist Network in Odisha
Ganesh Uike, a native of Telangana who was promoted to the Central Committee in 2020, was a key figure aiming to revive Maoist activities in Odisha. His focus was on the Kalahandi-Rayagada-Kandhamal-Boudh-Nayagarh axis. In February, he had convened a meeting in Kotagarh to strategize the revival of activities in regions once dominated by former Odisha Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda.
Security officials hailed the operation as a major morale booster. They emphasized that it underscored the critical importance of intelligence-driven missions in counter-insurgency. The death of Uike is expected to severely weaken the Maoist organizational structure and their operational capabilities within Odisha, though authorities acknowledge that sporadic threats may persist.
This successful mission marks a critical victory for the state's security forces, demonstrating a strategic shift from reactive engagements to proactive, intelligence-based neutralization of high-value targets.
