In a significant boost to anti-Maoist efforts in the state, 15 hardcore Maoists formally surrendered to Shri Sanjeeb Panda, IPS, ADG (Anti-Naxal Operations), Odisha Police, during a special event held at the District Police Office (DPO) in Rayagada.
During the ceremony, the surrendered Maoists voluntarily laid down their arms and handed over their weapons to Shri Panda, symbolising their decision to renounce violence and reintegrate into the mainstream of society.
Addressing the gathering, Sanjeeb Panda stated that the surrender of these 15 Maoists reflects the steadily diminishing influence of left-wing extremist ideology in the region, as well as the increasing trust of misguided youth in the government’s development-oriented and people-centric approach. He emphasised that sustained operations by the SOG, DVF, CRPF, and BSF have significantly weakened the Maoist base.
The ADG further assured that all surrendered Maoists would receive benefits under the State Government’s Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy, which includes financial assistance, vocational training, and skill development, to help them reintegrate into society with dignity.
Among the surrendered Maoists are Nikhil and Indu, both State Committee Members, each with a reward of 55 lakhs. The group includes 2 State Committee Members, 1 Divisional Committee Member, 5 Area Committee Members, and 8 party members. Together, they carried a reward total of 1.98 crores.
They surrendered 14 weapons, including 2 AK-47 rifles, 5 Self-Loading Rifles (SLR), 1 INSAS rifle, 1 Sten gun, 1 .303 rifle, 4 single-shot firearms, and a significant quantity of ammunition, with a reward value of approximately 16 lakhs for the arms.
The 15-member group operated from the BGN division (Banshadhara, Ghuman, Nagabali) and was active in Rayagada, Kandhamal, Gajapati, and Kalahandi districts. Nikhil joined the Maoist organisation in 2004 and became active in the BGN region in 2008. Following the killing of Central Committee Member Ganesh Uike in Kandhamal in December 2025, Nikhil became the next highest-ranking Maoist in the state.
The event was attended by Amitendra Nath Sinha, IPS, IG CRPF; Dr Deepak Kumar, IPS, IG Operations; Akhileshvar Singh, DIG SIW; Vishal Singh, DIG Koraput; Ashutosh Kulkarni, Collector of Rayagada; Ms Swathi, SP Rayagada; Harish BC, SP Kandhamal; and Nagaraj, SP Kalahandi.
So far, Nuapada, Nawarangpur, Malkangiri, Koraput, and Boud districts have become completely Naxal-free. ADG Panda appealed to other Maoists to abandon violence and surrender to the police, assuring them of all possible assistance under the surrender policy.
