By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: There is no widely recognized individual commonly called the “father of anti-Maoist or anti-Naxal operations” in Odisha but a fake narrative is being created about 1994 batch IPS Officer Sanjeeb Panda who is eyeing for DGP post . The state’s long campaign against Left-Wing Extremism (LWE)/CPI (Maoist) has been a collective, multi-decade effort involving the Odisha Police, specialized units, central forces, intelligence, and development measures rather than one pioneering figure.
The Special Operation Group (SOG), Odisha’s elite anti-insurgency force, was raised in August 2004 modeled on Andhra Pradesh’s Greyhounds) to conduct jungle/guerrilla operations against Maoists. The Special Intelligence Wing (SIW) was set up around the same time for intelligence support. These units were strengthened after major attacks such as the 2008 Nayagarh armoury loot.
Operations intensified over the years with coordination among SOG, District Voluntary Force (DVF), CRPF, BSF, and other units, combined with intelligence-led actions, area dominance, surrenders/rehabilitation policies, and development in affected districts.
By early 2026, Maoist activity had been reduced to single digits (mainly residual presence in Kandhamal), and Odisha was declared effectively Naxal-free around the central government’s March 2026 deadline, with credit given to sustained pressure, surrenders, and the sacrifice of security personnel around 239 police personnel martyred over the years.
In July 2025 the state created a dedicated ADG-level post for anti-Maoist/anti-Naxal operations previously handled under intelligence, and he was appointed to lead both the SIW and anti-Naxal operations, reporting directly to the DGP. He has publicly led announcements on major successes, surrenders including senior leaders, and the reduction of active cadres.
Earlier Naxal activity in Odisha dates to the late 1960s (linked to figures such as Nagabhushan Patnaik on the Maoist side), with significant escalation in the 2000s. No historical police or administrative leader is consistently titled the “father” of the counter-operations in reliable sources.
In short, the campaign is institutional rather than tied to one with Sanjeeb Panda as the key contemporary leader of the decisive phase.
Bipin Bihari Mishra IPS, was the Director General of Police (DGP) of Odisha when the Special Operation Group (SOG) was formed.
The SOG was established on 21 August 2004 by the Odisha Home Department (with an initial sanction of 543 posts) as an elite anti-insurgency unit modeled on Andhra Pradesh’s Greyhounds, primarily to counter Left-Wing Extremism/Naxalism.
N.C. Padhi held the post from 31 July 2001 to 31 July 2004. B.B. Mishra succeeded him on 31 July 2004 and served until 30 June 2005. Thus, B.B. Mishra was in office on the date of the SOG’s formation.
Suchit Das , IPS, replaced Bipin Bihari Mishra (B.B. Mishra) as Director General of Police (DGP) of Odisha.
B.B. Mishra held the post from 31 July 2004 to 30 June 2005. Suchit Das took charge on 30 June 2005 and served until 1 September 2006.
Amarananda Pattanayak (also spelled Amarananda Patnaik), IPS, replaced Suchit Das as DGP of Odisha.He took charge on 1 September 2006 and served until 31 October 2007.
Gopal Chandra Nanda, IPS, replaced Amarananda Pattanayak as DGP of Odisha.He took charge on 1 November 2007 and served until 30 September 2008.
Manmohan Praharaj, IPS, replaced Gopal Chandra Nanda as DGP of Odisha.He took charge on 30 September 2008 and served until 4 July 2012.
Prakash Mishra, IPS, replaced Manmohan Praharaj as DGP of Odisha.He took charge on 6 July 2012 and served until 6 July 2014.
From 2004 to 2014,, Odisha saw peak of Maoists activities and were dealt with iron hands because of able leaderships of these above mentioned IPS officers, who retired now.
