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The BSF and Odisha Police are leveraging advanced technology, including drones and satellite surveillance, to track and neutralise the remaining Maoist leadership
This target is directly aligned with the Union Home Ministry’s national directive to free the entire country from the Naxal menace within the same timeframe. (Representational image)
The Border Security Force (BSF) and the Odisha Police have intensified their coordinated anti-Naxal operations, setting an ambitious deadline to completely eradicate Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) from the state by March 2026. This target is directly aligned with the Union Home Ministry’s national directive to free the entire country from the Naxal menace within the same timeframe, underscoring the final phase of the decades-long counter-insurgency effort in Odisha.
The operational strategy is multi-pronged, focusing on vigorous, intelligence-based tactical offensives coupled with a strong emphasis on development and rehabilitation. Senior officials, including the Odisha DGP and the BSF’s Inspector General for Special Operations, have been conducting regular high-level reviews in districts that historically served as Maoist strongholds. While Odisha has seen significant success in reducing the geographical spread of the insurgency, with no district currently listed in the Ministry of Home Affairs’ “most affected” category, the final battle is concentrated in residual pockets. Critical attention remains focused on the tri-junction areas, particularly Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Malkangiri, and Rayagada, which share volatile borders with Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh, often used by Maoist cadres to retreat and regroup.
The security forces have been strategically establishing new Company Operating Bases (COBs) in remote, previously inaccessible areas to choke off the Naxals’ supply lines and deny them safe havens. This area domination has directly led to a significant decline in the number of active cadres, which officials estimate to be around 80 to 85 operatives, most of whom are non-Odisha natives. A crucial part of the operation involves disrupting the Naxals’ logistics, including the destruction of IED caches and unearthing arms dumps, which severely hampers their ability to execute attacks. The BSF and the State Police are leveraging advanced technology, including drones and satellite surveillance, to track and neutralise the remaining leadership.
Furthermore, the state government is aggressively promoting its surrender and rehabilitation policy, offering substantial financial assistance and benefits to encourage Maoists to lay down their arms and join the mainstream. This effort, combined with accelerated infrastructure projects like road construction and delivery of welfare schemes, aims to address the root causes of the insurgency by winning the trust and confidence of the local tribal population in the remote areas. The March 2026 deadline represents not just a security milestone but a commitment to restoring full governance and development across all of Odisha.
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
November 29, 2025, 8:00 PM IST
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