Odisha Encounter: Security Forces Kill Top Maoist Leader Ganesh Uike, Recover Arms

Odisha Encounter: Security Forces Kill Top Maoist Leader Ganesh Uike, Recover Arms

Forces neutralise four Maoists in Kandhamal forest
Security forces struck a major blow to the Maoist network in Odisha on Thursday by killing four Naxals, including senior leader Ganesh Uike, during an encounter in Kandhamal district. Uike, a central committee member of the CPI (Maoist) and Odisha in-charge, carried a bounty of about ₹1.1 crore and ranked among the most wanted Maoist commanders in the region.

Officials said the exchange of fire took place in a forest area under Chakapada police limits, close to the Rambha forest range along the Odisha–Ganjam border. During the operation, security personnel neutralised four uniformed Maoists—two men and two women—and seized two INSAS rifles and one .303 rifle from the site.

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Central committee leader eliminated; other identities under verification

ADG (Anti-Naxal Operations) Sanjeeb Panda confirmed that Ganesh Uike, also known by the aliases Rupa, Chamu and Pakka Hanumantu, hailed from Telangana’s Nalgonda district. He said the operation marked the first instance in recent years in which Odisha security forces eliminated a Maoist commander of central committee rank in the state.

Authorities are verifying the identities of the remaining three Maoists killed in the encounter. The operation followed another action a day earlier in Kandhamal, where forces gunned down two Maoist cadres, including an area committee member. With these encounters, security forces have killed six Maoists in the district over the past two days.

The latest success comes soon after 22 Maoists from Chhattisgarh surrendered before authorities in Odisha’s Malkangiri district, dealing a significant setback to the insurgent network in the region.Forces neutralise four Maoists in Kandhamal forest
Security forces struck a major blow to the Maoist network in Odisha on Thursday by killing four Naxals, including senior leader Ganesh Uike, during an encounter in Kandhamal district. Uike, a central committee member of the CPI (Maoist) and Odisha in-charge, carried a bounty of about ₹1.1 crore and ranked among the most wanted Maoist commanders in the region.

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