Bhubaneswar, 26 December (H.S.) : Additional Director General (ADG) of Anti-Naxal Operations, Sanjeev Panda, on Friday conducted a high-level review of the ongoing anti-Naxal operations in Kandhamal district during his visit to Phulbani. Addressing the media after the review meeting, the ADG described the Kandhamal encounter as a significant achievement and lauded the security personnel involved in the operation.

ADG Panda said the anti-Naxal operation is still underway and has been further intensified with the deployment of additional security forces. He informed that during the course of the operation, a large cache of Maoist materials, including modern weapons and explosives, has been seized, dealing a substantial blow to the outlawed organisation.

Providing details of the encounter, the ADG said the slain Maoist leader, Ganesh Uike, had been associated with the Maoist movement for nearly 39 years. Uike was allegedly involved in several violent incidents across different states and was leading Maoist activities in Odisha. Being a senior and influential leader of the organisation, his death has delivered a major setback to the Maoist network, Panda said.

The ADG expressed hope that following Uike’s death, a majority of Maoist cadres would either abandon the organisation or come forward to surrender. He appealed to the remaining Naxals to renounce violence and take advantage of the government’s surrender and rehabilitation policy to rejoin the mainstream.

During the press briefing, ADG Panda reiterated that security forces have been given a clear mandate to make Odisha Maoist-free. Expressing confidence in the ongoing efforts, he said the state would be completely free from Maoist activities by March.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda