15 Maoists surrender, Odisha declares Bolangir and Bargarh Naxal-free

Odisha Police on Sunday declared Bolangir and Bargarh districts as Naxal-free after 15 Maoists of the Odisha state committee and the Bolangir–Bargarh–Mahasamund (BBM) division laid down arms in neighbouring Chhattisgarh, marking a major breakthrough in the state’s sustained anti-Naxal campaign.

The surrender took place at a formal function in Chhattisgarh’s Mahasamund district , which borders Bargarh, in the presence of senior Odisha police officers. Among those who surrendered was Special Zonal Committee member Vikas , secretary of the West Sub-Zonal wing of the banned CPI (Maoist). The group included nine women cadres and handed over a cache of sophisticated weapons, including three AK-47 rifles, two self-loading rifles (SLRs), two INSAS rifles, and three .303 rifles , officials said.

Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma said the surrender marked the complete collapse of the BBM division. “Only 15 members were left in this division, and all have now surrendered,” he said, calling it a decisive step towards restoring peace along the Odisha–Chhattisgarh border.

Director General of Police YB Khurania described the development as a major milestone. “Now, Bolangir and Bargarh districts are officially declared Naxal-free,” he said, adding that the famed Gandhamardan hills , long considered a Maoist stronghold, have also become peaceful. Khurania attributed the success to sustained intelligence-led operations, coordinated action by central and state forces, and strong cooperation from local communities.

With this declaration, the number of Naxal-free districts in Odisha has risen to seven - Nuapada, Nabarangpur, Koraput, Malkangiri, Boudh, Bolangir, and Bargarh . However, Maoist presence persists in pockets of Kandhamal and adjoining forest regions , where small splinter groups are believed to remain active.

Following the latest surrender, around 25 to 40 Maoists are estimated to remain active in Odisha , largely concentrated in Kandhamal. Of the 10 districts earlier identified as Maoist-affected, only Kandhamal now remains under the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme , with the rest reclassified as “other LWE-affected districts.”

ADG (anti-Naxal operations) Sanjeeb Panda said a major combing operation is underway in Kandhamal’s Daringbadi and Raikia forest areas to trace the most wanted Maoist leader Sukru, with drones deployed to intensify surveillance. Officials said the surrender followed weeks of outreach, reflecting the success of rehabilitation policies. Over the past two years, Chhattisgarh alone has recorded more than 2,700 Maoist surrenders and over 500 neutralisations , signalling a broader collapse of insurgent networks across central India. The Centre has reiterated its goal of eliminating Left-Wing Extremism nationwide by March 31, 2026 , with Odisha emerging as a key success story.