Kandhamal: In a major success against Maoist insurgents, Kandhamal police on Sunday killed two armed cadres, including a Deputy Platoon Commander, in an encounter in the Nandabali Protected Reserve Forest under Raikia police limits. Several weapons and Maoist materials were recovered from the site.
The deceased have been 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).
According to Kandhamal Superintendent of Police Harisha B.C., the operation was launched based on specific intelligence that Maoists were camping in the area and threatening tribal villagers suspected of being police informers. Eleven teams of the Special Operations Group (SOG), along with two teams of the CRPF and one DVF unit, participated in the joint operation.
Around 11 am on February 22, the SOG personnel came under fire, triggering an exchange of fire that lasted about two hours. During the search that followed, the bodies of one male and one female Maoist were recovered.
Weapons and materials seized from the encounter site include one AK-47 fitted with an Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL), six UBGL grenades, a 7.62 mm Self-Loading Rifle (SLR) with magazines, a large quantity of ammunition, medicines, walkie-talkies, and other Maoist paraphernalia.
The Odisha government had earlier announced cash rewards of Rs 22 lakh for Jagesh and Rs 1.65 lakh for Ratna. Additional rewards included Rs 3.30 lakh for the AK-47, Rs 44,000 for the UBGL, and Rs 1.65 lakh for the SLR. The bodies and recovered materials were brought to Phulbani reserve lines for further procedures.
Police said the duo had been involved in multiple Left Wing Extremist incidents in Kandhamal over the past five years, including exchanges of fire at Sirla, Sindhiponkal, Baibali, Padripoda, Bereni, Raigarh, Kolampada, Dhubusora, Tadikola, Sarlipanga, and Upar Dangnam.
A massive combing and search operation is underway in and around the encounter site to track other members of the group and secure the area.
ADG Anti-Naxal Operations Sanjeeb Panda 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 Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He added that the police will continue intensive operations to restore lasting peace in Kandhamal and other affected districts. Panda also appealed to the remaining Maoists to renounce violence and join the mainstream, assuring that Odisha Police will provide all assistance and support under the surrender policy.
He further stated that Nuapada, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Koraput, and Boudh districts have become free from Naxal activity.
The briefing was attended by Niti Sekhar, IG Southern Range; Dr. Deepak Kumar, IG Operations; Akhileshvar Singh, DIG Operations; and Harisha B.C., SP Kandhamal.
