Odisha Police Declares Nuapada District Maoist-Free
Odisha police have officially declared Nuapada district free from Maoist influence. This significant announcement comes after the surrender of the region's last nine active naxals in neighboring Chhattisgarh on Monday.
Details of the Surrendered Maoists
All nine surrendered individuals are natives of Chhattisgarh. Three of them served as divisional committee members. They were part of the Odisha state committee and operated within the Dhamtari–Gariaband–Nuapada division.
Their activities spanned across Nuapada district in Odisha and extended into Dhamtari and Gariaband areas of Chhattisgarh. The group carried a combined bounty of Rs 45 lakh on their heads.
Six women were among the nine surrendered Maoists. Police identified them as Anju alias Kavita, Baldev alias Bamanbatti, Damru alias Mahadev, Soni, Ranjit, Parvati, Ratna, Navita and Sarupa.
Police Confirmation and Significance
Sanjeeb Panda, ADG of anti-naxal operations, confirmed the development. He stated that according to police records, these nine individuals represented the last active Maoists in Nuapada district.
"Anju and Baldev, both divisional committee members, were particularly active in Nuapada," Panda explained. "Their surrender means Nuapada has now become free of Naxal influence."
This achievement provides a substantial boost to Odisha police efforts. It aligns with the central government's target to eliminate Left-Wing Extremism nationwide by March 31.
Broader Anti-Naxal Operations
Police authorities emphasized continued vigilance to prevent any resurgence of Maoist activity in Nuapada. Security forces remain alert to maintain the district's Maoist-free status.
Several Maoists from the DGN division had surrendered earlier. Over the past year, security operations neutralized at least 27 prominent cadre members in Chhattisgarh.
Notable operations included:
- A joint Odisha–Chhattisgarh–CRPF operation on January 21, 2025 eliminated Chalapathi and 13 cadres
- Balakrishna, the Odisha secretary of the state Maoist committee, was killed on September 11, 2025
Recent Successes in Odisha
Odisha police achieved another significant victory on December 24 and 25, 2025. Security forces gunned down six Maoists in Kandhamal district, including central committee member Ganesh Uike.
A senior police official commented on the broader impact of these operations. "These actions have dramatically reduced Maoist influence across Odisha," he stated.
The official revealed that nearly 95% of Maoist cadres in Odisha originated from Chhattisgarh. Currently, only about 70 Maoists remain active in the entire state, with approximately five being natives of Odisha.
This development marks a crucial milestone in Odisha's ongoing battle against Left-Wing Extremism. It demonstrates significant progress in restoring peace and security to affected regions.
