Decisive Break in India’s Fight Against Maoist Insurgency: Ganesh Uikey Killed in Odisha Encounter

On December 25, 2025, Indian security forces carried out a major anti‑Maoist operation in the dense forests of Kandhamal district, Odisha, resulting in the death of Ganesh Uikey, one of the most senior leaders of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist). The operation, conducted jointly by the Odisha Police’s Special Operations Group (SOG), the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Border Security Force (BSF), unfolded early in the morning after credible intelligence inputs led forces to a Maoist hideout in the Rambha forest range near Chakapad police limits. The encounter lasted several hours with heavy exchanges of fire before security personnel recovered the bodies of six Maoist insurgents, including Uikey.

Ganesh Uikey, around 69 years old, was a Central Committee member of the CPI (Maoist) and the head of the outfit’s operations in Odisha. He carried a reward of approximately ₹1.1 crore on his head offered by multiple state governments for his role in planning and executing violent actions across eastern and central India. Known by various aliases such as Pakka Hanumantu, Rajesh Tiwari and Rupa, Uikey was considered instrumental in sustaining Maoist operations in the region and was among the few remaining top leaders still active.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah. PTI File | Firstpost

Impact on the Maoist Movement

The neutralisation of Uikey is being widely described by government officials and security analysts as a “backbone‑breaking” blow to the Maoist insurgency in Odisha and beyond. With his death, the insurgent organisation has lost yet another key member of its leadership at a time when its overall structure is under intense pressure. In 2025 alone, multiple high‑ranking Maoist commanders have been killed or captured, significantly reducing the strength and operational capability of the group’s central committee.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah highlighted the significance of this development by calling the operation a “significant milestone towards a Naxal‑free Bharat.” He reiterated the central government’s target of eradicating left‑wing extremism by March 31, 2026, a goal that has been repeatedly emphasised in recent parliamentary sessions and public statements.

This encounter comes shortly after a mass surrender of 22 Maoist cadres in neighbouring Malkangiri district, further underscoring the weakening grip of the insurgency in areas that were once considered strongholds.

Broader Trends in Left‑Wing Extremism

The death of Ganesh Uikey is not an isolated event but part of a broader trend in India’s long‑running campaign against left‑wing extremism and Maoist insurgency. Over the past decade and more, the government has intensified counter‑insurgency operations across the so‑called Red Corridor, spanning multiple states from Odisha and Chhattisgarh to Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh. According to government data presented in Parliament, incidents of left‑wing extremist violence have significantly declined, with large numbers of insurgents killed, arrested or surrendered in recent years.

Strategic initiatives such as enhanced intelligence gathering, improved coordination between state and central forces, and targeted operations by specialised units like the SOG and elite anti‑Naxal squads have been credited with dismantling key leadership networks and curbing recruitment. Meanwhile, development programs and surrender‑counselling schemes have encouraged many lower‑level cadres to abandon armed struggle and reintegrate into society.

Analysts note that while Maoist influence once extended across numerous districts in central and eastern India, these numbers have plummeted sharply in recent years. The movement’s presence, confined largely to remote forested areas, faces mounting challenges both from sustained military pressure and from internal weaknesses such as poor adaptation to changing socio‑political dynamics.

The MGMM Outlook

The recent encounter in Odisha’s Kandhamal district, which led to the death of Ganesh Uikey, one of the senior-most leaders of the CPI (Maoist), represents a decisive moment in India’s long-standing campaign against left-wing extremism. Uikey, aged around 69 and carrying a reward of over ₹1 crore, had been a central figure in orchestrating Maoist operations across eastern and central India. The joint operation by Odisha Police’s SOG, CRPF, and BSF, guided by credible intelligence, not only eliminated Uikey but also resulted in the deaths of five other insurgents, highlighting the increasing effectiveness of coordinated security actions in historically stronghold areas. His demise further weakens the leadership of the Maoist outfit at a time when multiple commanders have been neutralised or surrendered, signaling a significant erosion of the group’s operational capability.

This development is part of a broader decline in Maoist influence across the Red Corridor, reflecting years of sustained counter-insurgency efforts, including targeted operations, intelligence-led interventions, and rehabilitation programs for surrendered cadres. While the movement has been largely confined to remote forested regions, ongoing security pressure combined with socio-economic initiatives has gradually disrupted its organizational structure and recruitment ability. The Odisha encounter underscores the tangible progress in India’s goal to reduce left-wing extremism, demonstrating how strategic operations coupled with long-term development efforts are reshaping the security landscape in areas previously dominated by insurgency.

(Sources: NDTV, Hindustan Times, Firstpost)