Odisha Director General of Police (DGP) Yogesh Bahadur Khurania today declared that Balangir and Bargarh are now Left-Wing Extremism (LWE)-free districts, following the surrender of 15 Maoists in neighbouring Chhattisgarh.
According to state police, this announcement represents a significant milestone in Odisha’s ongoing anti-LWE operations. The 15 Maoists surrendered their weapons and joined the mainstream during a special event in the Mahasamund district of Chhattisgarh, which borders Odisha’s Bargarh district.
Police sources noted that these surrendered cadres were previously active within the Bargarh–Balangir–Mahasamund division. They further said that with the surrender of these 15 ultras in Chhattisgarh, both Bargarh and Balangir are now considered free of Naxal activities.
“Sustained joint operations conducted over a prolonged period, precise intelligence inputs, coordinated efforts of Central and state security forces and active cooperation from local residents have led to the complete elimination of Naxal activities from these two districts,” DGP Khurania said.
DGP Khurania credited the achievement to the bravery, restraint, and dedication of the police force. During the announcement, he congratulated the officers and personnel involved and thanked the public for their continued trust and support.
He also expressed gratitude to the public for their trust and continued support.
Khurania added that similar intensified operations would continue in other affected areas of the state to ensure the complete eradication of the Naxal problem at the earliest.
Earlier, the Odisha Police had declared Malkangiri, Koraput, Boudh, Nuapada and Nabarangpur as LWE-free districts.
In a notable shift in the state’s internal security landscape, villagers in formerly Maoist-dominated areas of Odisha have recently begun dismantling memorial structures built by Maoist organisations.
Meanwhile, with the deadline set for the complete eradication of Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) approaching, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on February 23 stated that around 40 Maoists are currently active in various parts of the state.
