New Delhi, 25 December (H.S.): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday described the killing of top Maoist leader and Central Committee member Ganesh Uike, along with five other Naxalites, during a major anti-Naxal operation in Odisha’s Kandhamal district, as a significant milestone towards a Naxal-free India.

In a post on the official X handle of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Shah wrote, “A major step towards a Naxal-free India. In a large-scale operation in Kandhamal, Odisha, six Naxalites, including Central Committee member Ganesh Uike, have been neutralized so far. With this major success, Odisha stands on the threshold of complete freedom from Naxalism. We are firmly determined to eliminate Naxalism before March 31, 2026.”

According to police sources, Ganesh Uike was one of the top commanders of the Maoist organization and carried a cash reward of ₹1.10 crore on his head. He was believed to be a key strategist behind Maoist operations in Odisha and neighboring states.Odisha Director General of Police Yogesh Bahadur Khurania stated that the joint operation was conducted by combined security forces on the Kandhamal-Ganjam border, following precise intelligence inputs.

During the ensuing encounter, six Naxalites were killed.Security forces have since launched an extensive search operation in the area. Officials said this successful action will likely prove decisive in eradicating the Naxal menace from Odisha, which has long battled left-wing extremism in its forested regions.

The operation marks another major push in India’s ongoing fight against Naxal insurgency, reaffirming the government’s commitment to restoring peace and development in affected states.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar