anti maoist operation

Four security personnel, including an inspector, tragically lost their lives in an accidental IED blast during a de-mining operation in Chhattisgarh's Kanker-Narayanpur border region. The blast occurred while the team was attempting to defuse a Maoist-planted explosive. This incident highlights the persistent dangers faced by forces in the insurgency-affected Bastar area.

Security forces gunned down a Maoist cadre, identified as Amrit alias Israel with a Rs 1 lakh bounty, in an encounter in Saranda forest. Amrit, a central technical committee cadre, specialized in assembling rockets and making IEDs. The operation intensified following intelligence about top Maoist Misir Besra's movements.

A CoBRA jawan was injured in an IED blast during an ongoing gun battle with Maoist guerrillas in Jharkhand's Saranda forest. Security forces are engaged in a two-day operation to flush out Naxals, including a high-value target. Despite intermittent firing and previous injuries to five personnel, forces have cornered rebels and are pursuing a strategy of surrender or elimination.

Security forces battling Maoists in Saranda forest are also fighting malaria, with nine CoBRA jawans diagnosed in six days. One jawan died, and another was airlifted for treatment. The dense, rain-fed forest provides ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes, contributing to a high number of malaria cases in the region.

A Maoist commander, Rupi, with a Rs 5 lakh bounty, was killed in a gunfight with security forces in Kanker district. The encounter occurred in a forested area under Chhote Betia police station. Security forces recovered the commander's body and a weapon, and have intensified search operations in the vicinity.

Odisha is establishing a dedicated anti-terror squad (ATS) to bolster internal security and respond swiftly to threats, shifting focus from left-wing extremism to urban terrorism. The ATS will operate statewide, likely replacing the crime branch's STF, and will leverage the reoriented Special Operations Group (SOG) and its advanced training facilities to enhance the state's preparedness.

Odisha police are now focused on recovering nearly 610 sophisticated weapons looted by Maoists over the years, having already retrieved about 60% of the total 1,539 arms. Following directives from the Union Home Minister, states are compiling databases of looted arms to facilitate their identification and return, with Odisha expecting to recover more from seizures in neighboring states.

Odisha police are honoring security personnel lost in the fight against left-wing extremism, now officially eradicated. Teams are visiting families of fallen heroes to acknowledge their sacrifices, which paved the way for peace. The initiative aims to ensure these families feel connected to the mission and remain respected and supported, reinforcing that martyrs are integral to this milestone achievement.