Kandhamal police scored a major success against Maoist insurgents on Sunday with the neutralisation of two armed cadres including one deputy Platoon Commander in an exchange of fire in the Nandabali Protected Reserve Forest under Raikia police limits

Acting on specific intelligence that Maoists were camping in the area and threatening tribal villagers with death on suspicion of being police informers, Superintendent of Police Harisha B.C., IPS, launched a joint anti-Maoist operation with Eleven teams of the Special Operations Group (SOG), two teams of the CRPF and one DVF unit.  Around 11 a.m. on February 22, SOG personnel came under fire from Maoist cadres, leading to an exchange of fire, which lasted for about two hours. After firing, during search of the area SOG team

Recoved two dead bodies including one male and one female Maoist.

Police recovered one AK-47 rifle fitted with an Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL), six UBGL grenades, one 7.62 mm Self-Loading Rifle (SLR) with magazines, along with a large quantity of ammunition, medicines, walkie talkie and Maoist materials from the encounter site.

 The deceased have been prima facie identified as Jagesh, Deputy Commander of a Military Platoon, and Ratna, a Party Member, both belonging to the KKBN Division led by senior Maoist leader Sukru (SZCM).

 The Government of Odisha had earlier announced cash rewards of ₹22 lakh on Jagesh and ₹1.65 lakh on Ratna, besides rewards of ₹3.30 lakh for the AK-47 rifle, ₹44,000 for the UBGL and ₹1.65 lakh for the SLR.

The dead bodies of the maoists and other articles were brought to Phulbani reserve lines.

According to police, the duo were involved in a series of Left Wing Extremist incidents in Kandhamal district for last five years, including multiple exchanges of fire at Sirla, Sindhiponkal, Baibali, Padripoda, Bereni, Raigarh, Kolampada, Dhubusora, Tadikola, Sarlipanga and Upar Dangnam.

 A massive combing and search operation has been launched in and around the encounter spot to trace other members of the group and ensure full domination of the area.

Sri Sanjeeb Panda, IPS,  ADG Anti Naxal Operations briefed the media in Phulbani and asserted that  Odisha Police remains fully committed to the national objective of ending Naxalism by March 31, 2026, as set by the Hon’ble Union Home Minister, and will continue intensive operations to restore lasting peace in Kandhamal and other affected districts. He also appealed to the remaining maoists to renounce violence, join the main stream and Odisha Police will provide all the assistance and support as per surrender policy.

He further added that Nuapada,  Nawarangpur, Malkangiri,  Koraput,  Boudh district have become free from naxal activity.

Niti Sekhar IG Southern Range, Dr Deepak Kumar, IG Operations, Akhileshvar Singh,  DIG Operation,  Harisha BC, SP Kandhamal were present in the meeting.