No. of active Maoists in Odisha down to 15 from 40 in a month: CM’s reply in assembly

Bhubaneswar: As Centre’s March 31 goal to free India of Maoist influence remains within touching distance, the number of active Maoists in Odisha has declined from 40 to 15 within a month, according to data presented in the assembly on Monday.Responding to a question from Congress MLA Taraprasad Bahinipati, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi stated in a written reply that under Centre’s security related expenditure (SRE) scheme, only Kandhamal district is currently classified as left-wing extremism (LWE) affected. Eight other districts — Boudh, Balangir, Kalahandi, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Nuapada and Rayagada — are listed as legacy and thrust (L&T) districts.

“Except 15 Maoists operating in the border areas of Kandhamal, Kalahandi and Rayagada districts, no other part of the state has Maoist presence,” Majhi said.This marks a rapid erosion of LWE networks in Odisha. On Feb 23, Majhi had informed the assembly about 40 Naxals in splinter groups were spread across six districts — Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Boudh, Balangir and Bargarh. On Monday, Majhi reaffirmed Odisha’s commitment to achieving the national target of eliminating left-wing extremism by the end of this month.

Majhi further reported that between 2024 and March 15, 2026, a total of 96 Maoists surrendered in the state. “Under the surrender and rehabilitation policy, the government is supporting their reintegration with financial assistance, housing, monthly stipends, vocational training for up to 36 months, marriage assistance and health and ration cards,” Majhi said.In a separate reply to BJD MLA Dhruba Charan Sahoo, Majhi detailed the extensive security deployment in Naxal-affected regions — 28 companies of Border Security Force (BSF), 12 companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), 38 teams of Special Operations Group (SOG), 487 District Voluntary Force (DVF) personnel, 37 platoons of India Reserve Battalion, 29 platoons of special security battalion and 59 platoons of Odisha special striking force — to consolidate gains.Majhi also said that the state government has borne an expenditure of Rs 298.67 crore towards deployment of central armed police forces for anti-Maoist operations up to April 1, 2024. An additional Rs 21.44 crore has been sanctioned for CAPF deployment from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025.