Bhubaneswar: A total of 77 Maoists have surrendered and 27 ultras have been neutralised in Odisha over the last one year, the state’s Director General of Police (DGP) YB Khurania said on Sunday.
The DGP, who was in Phulbani to attend a special programme to honour security personnel involved in anti-Maoist operations in the state, urged the remaining cadres to lay down their arms to avoid action against them.
Khurania said that around a year ago, security forces were told that the influence of Maoists in the country was to be eliminated by March 31, 2026.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has been confident about meeting that deadline, repeatedly saying over the past few weeks that the country will be rid of Maoists by the end of March.
Khurania said that significant success has been achieved against Maoists in 2025 and 2026 thus far, thanks to coordinated efforts by security forces, including Central Armed Police Forces such as the BSF and CRPF, as well as various units of Odisha Police, including the Special Operations Group (SOG), Special Intelligence Wing (SIW), and District Voluntary Force (DVF).
“As many as 77 Maoists have surrendered to the Odisha Police, while 23 active Maoist cadres from Odisha have laid down their arms in Chhattisgarh. Security forces have neutralised 27 Maoists in various operations during this period, including 17 cadres — among them a Central Committee member of CPI (Maoist) — who were killed near the Nuapada-Gariaband border in a joint operation carried out by Odisha Police, Chhattisgarh Police, and other security forces on January 25, 2025,” DGP Khurania said.
According to latest assessment, the number of active Maoists in Odisha has come down to single digits, added Khurania, adding that a small group of cadres continues to operate in the forests of Kandhamal-Rayagada-Kalahandi region. Security forces are carrying out continuous combing operations to apprehend this small group.
Khurania reiterated his appeal to remaining Maoists to lay down their arms and avail benefits under the new rehabilitation and surrender policy introduced by the state government.
