Six Maoists killed in Odisha's Kandhamal district

India Dec 25, 2025

Security forces in Odisha just wrapped up a major two-day operation, taking down six Maoists—including Ganesh Uike, a top leader with a ₹1.1 crore bounty—during gunfights in the Kandhamal forests on December 24 and 25.
The huge team effort involved SOG, CRPF, and BSF units working together across tough terrain.

Why does it matter?

This is a big deal because Uike was behind some of the most serious attacks in recent years, like the 2013 Jhiram Ghati massacre.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah called it a "significant milestone" against Naxalism and said the government is aiming to end this threat by March 2026.
Security teams are continuing combing operations in the area to rule out the presence of additional Maoist cadres.