'Significant milestone': Shah lauds security forces for eliminating 6 Maoists
What's the story
Union Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah on Thursday hailed security forces for eliminating six Maoists in a two-day joint operation in Odisha's Kandhamal district. He called the operation, in which top leader Ganesh Uike was also gunned down, a "significant milestone" in the country's anti-Naxalite mission. Shah also said it was a major step toward making Odisha Naxal-free by March 2026.
Operation outcome
Operation details and significance
On Wednesday, two Maoists were killed during an encounter in the Gumma forest area, and the next day, four more were eliminated in the Narig Jholla forest region. The operation, launched on specific intelligence inputs from the Special Intelligence Wing (SIW), involved 23 teams, including 20 Special Operations Group (SOG) teams, two CRPF teams, and one BSF team. Calling the breakthrough "a significant milestone toward Naxal-free Bharat," Shah said Odisha is now closer to being completely free of Naxalism.
DGP statement
Odisha's DGP praises operation, confirms Uike's death
Odisha Director General of Police (DGP) YB Khurania also lauded the operation, calling it a big success for the Odisha Police, which has "broken the backbone of the Maoists in the state." "This is one of the biggest operations against Maoists in Odisha in recent times... We are determined to meet...Shah's target of eliminating Naxalism by March 2026," he added.
Leader profile
More on top Maoist leader Uike
Key Maoist leader Uike, the Odisha chief of CPI (Maoist) with a reward of ₹1.1 crore on his head, was among those slain in the operation. Known by several aliases, including Pakka Hanumantu, Rajesh Tiwari, Chamru, and Rupa, the 69-year-old belonged to Pullemala village in Telangana's Nalgonda district. Meanwhile, the identities of the other five Maoists killed in the operation are yet to be confirmed.