BHUBANESWAR: Union Home Minister Amit Shah felicitated the Odisha police at Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh on Monday for successfully achieving Naxal-free status in the state on March 31. The recognition was marked by a ceremony where Director General of Police (DGP) Y B Khurania and Additional Director General (Anti-Naxal Operations) Sanjeeb Panda received a memento from Shah in acknowledgment of the force's accomplishment.
Felicitation Ceremony Details
Several senior officers attended the event, including Inspector General of Police (Operations) Deepak Kumar, Deputy Inspector General (Special Intelligence Wing) Akhileshvar Singh, Kandhamal Superintendent of Police (SP) Harisha BC, DSP Santosh Sahu, DSP Sudesh Kumar Bal, Assistant Commandant PKMN Panda, Assistant Commandant Ashok Brahma, and Inspector (Armed) Debasish Sai.
Gratitude Expressed by Odisha Police
Speaking on the occasion, ADG Sanjeeb Panda said, "Odisha police is grateful to the Union Home Minister for recognising the efforts in anti-Naxal front. We attribute the success to the joint effort of SOG, DVF, SIW, CRPF, and BSF." The collaborative operations involved multiple security forces working together to eliminate the Maoist threat.
Statistics on Anti-Naxal Operations
Between 2025 and March 2026, a total of 27 Maoists, including two central committee members, were gunned down by security forces. This figure includes 17 Maoists who were killed in a joint operation in Chhattisgarh. During the same period, nine Maoists were arrested, while 78 others surrendered before the Odisha police, among them four state committee members.
Impact on Regional Security
More than 100 Maoists operating in Odisha surrendered before Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh police due to extensive operations conducted by security forces in Odisha. This achievement marks a significant milestone in the fight against left-wing extremism in the region.
About the Author: Debabrata Mohapatra is an Assistant Editor at The Times of India, Bhubaneswar. He has been writing for TOI from Puri since 2006 before joining the Bhubaneswar bureau in August 2010. He covers crime, law and order, and Congress.
