Bhubaneswar: Around 40 Maoists are currently active in Odisha, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi informed the state assembly on Monday. He also stated that the state government is committed to completely eradicating Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) by March 31, 2026, the deadline set by the Union Government.
In a written reply to a question by Rajanagar MLA Dhruba Charan Sahoo, Majhi said these Maoists operate in small groups across parts of Kalahandi, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Boudh, Balangir, and Bargarh districts. He highlighted that sustained efforts by security forces have led to a gradual improvement in the law and order situation in these areas.
Under the Union Government’s Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme, only Kandhamal district has been classified as an “Other LWE Affected District,” reflecting moderate to low levels of Maoist activity. The remaining eight districts—Malkangiri, Koraput, Nuapada, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Boudh, and Balangir—fall under the “Legacy and Thrust” category. Legacy districts are no longer significantly affected by Maoist violence, while Thrust districts remain vulnerable to expansion of Maoist activities.
Majhi said the state government has deployed a multi-layered security strategy to tackle the threat. This includes 71 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), 44 Special Operations Group (SOG) teams, 40 platoons of the India Reserve Battalion, 29 platoons of the Special Security Battalion, more than 92 platoons of the Odisha Special Striking Force (comprising ex-servicemen), and approximately 839 personnel of the District Voluntary Force (DVF).
The Odisha Police continue to carry out intelligence-driven operations and preventive area domination measures in the nine Maoist-affected districts. Drones, interceptors, modern weapons, and advanced communication equipment are being deployed in anti-Maoist operations.
On February 22, two Maoists were neutralised in Kandhamal district, following which security forces launched extensive combing operations in the Nandabadi jungle.
The Chief Minister reiterated that the state government is working closely with central agencies to ensure the complete eradication of LWE, emphasising a combination of security measures, intelligence operations, and community outreach in affected areas.
