Daijiworld Media Network - Odisha

Odisha, Jan 24: In a major boost to the fight against Left-Wing Extremism, Odisha’s Nabarangpur district has been declared Naxal-free following the surrender of nine Maoists in neighbouring Chhattisgarh, police said on Saturday.

Of the surrendered Maoists, seven are women, and the group was carrying a cumulative cash reward of Rs 47 lakh. Officials said the surrendered cadres were active in parts of Nabarangpur district and Chhattisgarh’s Dhamtari district.

“With the surrender of these Maoists, Nabarangpur district is now completely free from Naxal activities,” police said in an official statement, calling it a significant achievement for security forces.

The district had earlier witnessed several incidents of Maoist violence, including the killing of then BJD MLA Jagabandhu Majhi and his personal security officer PK Patro on September 24, 2011. Maoists had also carried out an attack on the Kundei police station in Raigarh block on July 16, 2010.

However, police noted that there has been no major Maoist-related incident in the district since 2011.

With Nabarangpur now free of Naxal presence, Maoist influence in Odisha is limited to pockets of only seven districts — Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Bolangir, Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada and Boudh.

A senior police officer described the development as a major milestone, especially as the Centre’s target to eliminate Left-Wing Extremism across the country by March 31 draws closer.