Top Maoist Commander Ganesh Uike Gunned Down in Kandhamal Operation
Security forces achieved a major breakthrough in Odisha’s fight against left‑wing extremism on Thursday, killing senior Maoist leader Ganesh Uike (69) along with three other cadres in the Chakapad area of Kandhamal district.
Uike, a central committee member of CPI (Maoist) and a native of Telangana’s Nalgonda district, carried a reward of Rs 1.1 crore.
He had long directed Maoist operations in Odisha, making him one of the most wanted insurgent leaders in the region.
Acting on intelligence inputs, a joint operation involving 23 teams of SOG, CRPF, and BSF was launched in the Rambha forest range. Around 9 am, Maoists opened fire on advancing forces, prompting a fierce exchange of gunfire.
Uike and three others, including two female cadres, were killed. Security personnel later recovered two INSAS rifles and one .303 rifle from the site.
This marks the second Maoist encounter in Odisha in 2025, raising the death toll of Maoists in the state this year to four.
Senior police officials described the operation as a major setback for Maoist activities, while the Centre reiterated its target to eliminate left‑wing extremism nationwide by March 2026.
Comb operations are continuing in the forest range to trace remaining cadres, as authorities intensify efforts to dismantle Maoist networks across Odisha.
