Odisha: Maoist commander Ganesh, 3 others killed in encounter

BHUBANESWAR/BERHAMPUR/HYDERABAD: He vanished astatine volition - sometimes robed arsenic a swamiji, instrumentality successful hand, towel implicit his enarthrosis - shedding names arsenic easy arsenic trails. On Thursday, bullets caught up with Maoist commandant Paka Hanumanthu, amended known arsenic Ganesh Uike, with a corporate bounty of Rs 1.1 crore, who refused to surrender and died successful a information cognition successful Odisha.The 69-year-old CPI (Maoist) cardinal committee subordinate - the Odisha in-charge of the banned outfit and a seasoned of much than 4 decades underground - was among 4 Maoists killed earlier dawn successful Kandhamal district, a hilly, forested portion successful confederate Odisha bordering Chhattisgarh. His decease raised the fig of rebels killed successful Kandhamal to six implicit the past 24 hours.

Security agencies linked Ganesh to respective large Maoist operations, astir notably the May 2013 Jhiram Ghati ambush successful Sukma territory of Chhattisgarh, wherever a convoy of Congress functionaries was attacked, sidesplitting astatine slightest 27 connected the spot and wounding 34.

That occurrence kept him precocious connected most-wanted lists crossed Maoist-affected states.Thursday's cognition followed the Dec 22 surrender of 22 Maoists from Chhattisgarh successful Malkangiri territory successful confederate Odisha. Police said credible quality from the surrendered cadres helped way Ganesh's movements. Ganesh sidesplitting a turning point: ShahTwo Maoists, including an country committee member, were killed Wednesday. Ganesh fell hours later, becoming the archetypal Maoist commandant and cardinal committee subordinate neutralised successful Odisha.

Kandhamal SP Harish BC said information forces recovered 4 bodies — 2 men and 2 women — each successful uniform, on with 2 INSAS rifles and a .303 rifle. “Ganesh’s individuality has been verified. Identities of the different 3 cadres are being established,” helium said.Home curate Amit Shah called the cognition a turning point. “A important milestone towards Naxal-free Bharat,” his bureau said successful a post. “We are resolved to destruct Naxalism earlier the 31st of March 2026.”

Shah has acceptable March 2026 arsenic the nationwide deadline to extremity Maoist insurgency and said Odisha is connected the verge of becoming escaped of left-wing extremism.Police sources said Ganesh showed nary signs of surrender. In caller months, helium had publically criticised cardinal committee workfellow Chandranna for surrendering to Telangana constabulary & insisted the question would proceed contempt setbacks. Ganesh carried bounties of Rs 40 lakh successful Chhattisgarh and Rs 25 lakh each successful Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.Born successful Pullemla colony of Nalgonda territory successful Telangana, Ganesh — known by aliases Rupa, Rajesh Tiwari, Chamu, Chamru and Somudu — studied successful Nalgonda, near his BSc unfinished, and went underground successful 1982 amid convulsive field politics. He aboriginal emerged arsenic an organiser and commandant successful West Bastar, a dense wood loop successful confederate Chhattisgarh, serving arsenic caput and in-charge of the divisional committee and overseeing the southbound sub-zonal bureau.