Maoist central committee member and Odisha in-charge Ganesh Uike (69) was among four Naxals killed in an encounter with security forces in Odisha’s Kandhamal district on Thursday. With this operation, security forces have eliminated six Maoists in the district over the past two days. A day earlier, forces gunned down two cadres, including an area committee member, during a separate operation.
Officials said this marks the first time in recent years that security forces have neutralised a Maoist commander of central committee rank in Odisha. Ganesh Uike, also known by his aliases Rupa, Chamu and Pakka Hanumantu, hailed from Nalgonda in Telangana and carried a bounty of ₹1.1 crore, said ADG (Anti-Naxal Operations) Sanjeeb Panda.
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Encounter in Chakapada forest; four uniformed Maoists killed, arms seized, identities of others being verified
According to Panda, the exchange of fire took place in a forest area under Chakapada police limits in Kandhamal district, close to the Rambha forest range of neighbouring Ganjam district. After the encounter, security personnel recovered the bodies of four uniformed Maoists — two men and two women — along with two INSAS rifles and one .303 rifle.
While officials have confirmed Ganesh Uike’s identity, they are still verifying the identities of the remaining three slain Maoists. The encounter comes just two days after 22 Maoists from Chhattisgarh surrendered before authorities in Odisha’s Malkangiri district, dealing a major blow to the insurgent network in the region.
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