Odisha Timeline 2018

January 7

The CPI-Maoist cadres accused some villagers of providing support to the Police and threatened them to leave their village in Malkangiri District. Sources said, terrorised by the Maoists, two tribal families in Kuruba village under the Kalimela Police Station in the District, left the village with their belongings on January 6, and have taken shelter in their relatives’ house. Few days back the Maoists had threatened the family of Mandra Madhi and Banja Padiami accusing that they have been working as ‘Police informers’ and warned them of dire consequences. Though they repeatedly tried to counter their allegations and said that they were not working as ‘informers’, the rebels did not buy their claims. Apprehending threat to their lives, the two families constituting 13 members fled from the village.

January 8

KAC of the CPI-Maoist in Malkangiri District, released a letter, that read Police atrocities against tribal and Maoist families are growing by the day and will not be tolerated any more, reports Pragativadi News. The letter claimed that Maoists who had surrendered in the recent past have done so due to pressure from the Police and people who are inspired by the Maoist ideology will never lay down arms and will continue to fight till last. Cowards surrender, Maoists are not cowards. There rebel is for the right of tribal. Those follow Maoism will never surrender.  Police are spreading false propaganda that Maoists are surrendering on their own. But, the fact is that the security personnel are pressurizing rebels to surrender. Police are also threatening the family members of the Naxals the letter issued by the ‘committee secretary’ Randev stated. The letter also warned the surrendered rebels of severe punishment as they have turned against the common man.

January 9

CPI-Maoist cadres have set ablaze seven vehicles engaged in road construction at Jamakana under Sadar Police Station of Kalahandi District. Around 50 CPI-Maoist cadres attacked camp of the contractor involved in the PMGSY road construction from Gunduri to Kadama. The rebels asked the contractor to vacate the place and set ablaze the road construction vehicles. The Police recovered CPI-Maoist posters, which claimed that the vehicles were set on fire to oppose the road construction work.

January 14

CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze Kendu (Diospyros melanoxylon) leaves storehouse at Barkani village under Sadar Police Station limits in Bolangir District. The Police recovered CPI-Maoist poster from a tree near the storehouse. The CPI-Maoist poster accused the kendu leaf DFO and Ranger of indulging in corrupt practices. It also added that the construction of Kendu leaf storehouses was incomplete and warned of further violence if steps were not taken to stop corruption, said Sadar IIC Jyotirmayee Bhucha.

January 15

Odisha Government will receive INR 2.3 billion in four years for development of infrastructure and services in Naxal -affected Districts under the NPAP launched by the Union Government. Two Districts of Odisha - Malkangiri and Koraput will be covered under the scheme. Each District will receive INR 280.57 million for the next three financial years taking the total to INR 1730.42 million. The State Government will, however, receive INR 570.14 million for utilisation in 2017-18. The Government will set up a State-level committee headed by the CS to monitor implementation of the programme. The DLC to be headed by the Collector will also have SP and DFO as members. Two Districts in Odisha included under the NPAP will receive INR 20 million each, to strengthen the vulnerable Police Stations every year. 17 Naxal affected Districts of Odisha will receive INR 10 million each for strengthening of Police Stations, said official sources.

January 16

CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze road construction equipment, opposing the road work at Luler village under the Maithili Police Station in Malkangiri District. Sources said the armed rebels raided the camp of a construction firm and asked the staffs and labourers to leave the spot. Then they set a tractor, road roller and other equipments ablaze. The Maoists left a poster behind claiming the incident to be their handiwork.

January 17

Police arrested an active cadre of the PLFI, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, identified as Kale Dhanwar alias Lal Babu from Biramitrapur Police Station limits in Sundargarh District. The District Police team raided the ward number-2 area of Biramitrapur and arrested Kale Dhanwar. During interrogation Dhanwar admitted his connection with the PLFI, said SP, Pinak Misra.

January 20

CPI-Maoist cadres assaulted eight villagers from Gagiaguda village under the Maithili Police Station limits in Malkangiri District. The villagers, identified as Paradesi Durua, Sitaram Durua, Padia Kabasi, Musiki Durua, Misi Kabashi, Lasimdhar Durua, Adam Padiami and Pandu Madi, were abducted on January 17 by the Maoist rebels on the charge of being ‘Police Informers’ and assaulted them in a ‘Praja court’ at a Maoist camp in a forest. The abducted villagers were released (January 20), and warned the villagers not to provide information about the Maoists to Police.

January 23

CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze a mixture machine and cement bags of a construction firm at Kaliaposh village of Tulsikani Gram Panchayat under Bisra area in Sundargarh District. CPI-Maoist cadres were demanding ‘ransom’ of INR 300,000 from the construction firm which is building a check dam estimated at INR 3.5 million. They had warned of the firm of dire consequences against resuming work till their demands were met. A few days back, CPI-Maoist leader Anmolda had sent a letter to the contractor demanding the ransom.

SKDC of CPI-Maoist called for 48 hour bandh on January 25 and 26 in Odisha and demanded Koraput SP, District Collector and DIG S. Saini to immediately transferred after the Kunduli suicide incident. Aruna, ‘secretary’ of SKDC released the audio tape in Koraput District, which urged the people to boycott the Republic Day celebrations across in Odisha and especially in Koraput District on January 26.

January 24

CPI-Maoist posters were recovered from Pottangi, Narayanpatna and Bandhugaon areas in Koraput District. The posters urged the people to observe January 26 as ‘Black Day’ as a mark of protest against the Kunduli gang-rape incident and demanded to save the tribals from the clutches of moneylenders, liquor traders and contractors.

January 26

he cadres of the CPI-Maoist observed a ‘Black Day’ on Republic Day in Chitrakonda block in Malkangiri District. The Maoists, as per their earlier declarations, hoisted black flags on various schools  and headquarters of Papulur, Kurmanur, Jodamba, Janti, Panasput, Andarapalli, Gajalmamudi, Valegada and Dhuliput Panchayats. They put up posters and banners asking people to join their ‘fresh struggle for democracy’. The posters were pasted on behalf of Kalimela Regional Committee (KRC) of CPI-Maoist, a report said.

The ultras managed to prevent people from celebrating Republic Day in various regions of Koraput District and observed bandh. While the Republic Day was not observed in a project primary school of Sorisapadar panchayat, the upgraded Government High School in the District was also found locked. The students of Matiaguda primary school in the panchayat too stayed away from the celebration. The schools in Dekaguda and Bandaguda villages remained closed; the roads wore a deserted look. People of Bhitarakota, Khasuguda, Dumuriguda, Malimaula and Kotia supported the bandh call given by the Maoists, a report said.

January 27

A CPI-Maoist leader identified as Digambar Poddar alias Prahlad, surrendered before SP, Jagmohan Meena in Malkangiri District. SP, Meena said Digambar had joined the Maoists in 2013. "He surrendered before the Police after seeing immoral activities of some Maoist leaders. He said he saw one senior cadre raping women in the cut-off area at gun point. The leader had been assaulting and killing people at will," the SP said. Digambar left the party opposing these activities, the SP said adding that he will given a lump sum, financial assistance to purchase homestead land, funds to pursue studies and for vocational training. Digambar carried a reward of INR 100,000 on his head for his involvement in several crimes including murder.

January 29

Five persons including two former CPI-Maoist cadres, natives of Jharkhand were arrested by Bisra Police under Bisra Tehsil in Sundargarh District, for allegedly running an extortion racket in the name of Maoists. Two out of five arrested were earlier associated with CPI-Maoist, but later they had left the outfit. A pistol has been seized from their possession. All the accused had vandalised a construction camp and set ablaze a mixer machine at Kaliaposh under Bisra Police limits after a failed extortion bid on January 23.

The Odisha Government has sought deployment of two additional battalions of CAPF in LWE-affected Districts in the State, MoS for Home Affairs, Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said. The MoS for Home Affairs also said the "level of violence" in Kalahandi District of Odisha does not warrant it to be included under the category of 'Worst Affected LWE Districts'. The Odisha Government has requested the Centre to include the District in this category. "The Government of Odisha has requested for two additional battalions of CAPF for deployment in LWE affected areas," Ahir said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. Further, the MoS said deployment of CAPF in LWE-affected States is a dynamic process based on the situation, availability of forces and other ground realities.

Currently, eight battalions each of CRPF and BSF, as well as one battalion of CoBRA are deployed in Odisha to assist the State Police in anti-LWE operations, he added. To a query on whether the Odisha Government has requested enhancement of bandwidth of mobile towers under LWE scheme, Ahir said that in December 2017 the DoT approved enhancing bandwidth from 512 kbps to 2 Mbps at all VSAT sites under the first phase. "This includes all 144 VSAT sites of Odisha," he said.

The Police and CPI-Maoist cadres exchanged fire during a raid on a camp of the Maoists near Tikarpadu under Jodamba Panchayat of Chitrakonda Police limits in Malkangiri District. The heavy exchange of fire took place inside the jungle near Tikarpadu when a joint squad of Greyhounds of Andhra Pradesh and SOG of Odisha Police Forces swooped down a Maoist camp during a joint combing operation. However, No casualties have been reported during the exchange of fire. Malkangiri SP, Jagmohan Meena said there were around 50 Maoists, including some leaders, at the camp at the time of firing. "Specifically, we can't divulge as which Maoist leader was present at the camp, but there were a few Maoist leaders. Unable to face heavy firing from our side, the Maoists fled the spot," Meena said. According to reports, taking advantage of the difficult terrain and dense jungle as many as 50 Maoists, including their top leader Akkiraju Haragopal aka Ramakrishna aka RK managed to escape. Police suspect that top rebel leaders had congregated at the camp to chalk out their strategy to carry out a major attack. At least 45 Maoist kit bags, six AK fire ammunition, two INSAS assault rifle rounds, six live 303, wire bundles, gas cutters 9 mm carbine magazine, explosive slurry and detonators were recovered from the camp.

The work on the Gurupriya River Bridge, which aims to connect about 151 villages of seven panchayats with Malkangiri District, has been extended for the fourth time after missing three deadlines. An official said the bridge was expected to be operational by March end. "Out of the 22 concrete slabs, work on 19 has been completed. We hope to complete the work before the March end," said the Malkangiri PWD's Executive Engineer, Arun Kumar Sahu.

Around seven CPI-Maoist cadres killed a civil contractor identified as Shiba Shankar Dash alias Tunu Dash at a site near Paji Bahali under Bijepur Police limits in Kalahandi District. CPI-Maoist cadres reached the spot in three motorcycles and fired four bullets into Dash's body, said Police. The motive behind the killing is yet to be ascertained, however, the rebels reportedly raising 'Maoist Zindabaad' slogans fled the spot after firing at Dash. "The armed miscreants came and asked Shivashankar for payment. He told them to get money from his clerk. They fired six rounds at him," said brother of the deceased, Ramashankar Das.

Three women CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested during a raid conducted in Katuapadar Forest under Mathili Police Station area in Malkangiri District. The arrested Maoists have been identified as Jogi Kabasi, Jamali Kurami and Idme Mandabi. Informing on the arrests Malkangiri SP, Jagmohan Meena said after getting a tip-off on a Maoist training camp functioning at the foot hills of Taulasi Dongri Hill, a joint team of Malkangiri Police and DVF conducted a raid. During the raid three women Maoists were arrested. "The arrested Maoists were members of Kangerghati Area Committee and were active in Tulsi Dongri area. One of the arrested Maoist Jogi Kabasi was carrying a prize of Rs 4 lakh on her head and the other two were carrying Rs 1 lakh each. They have been forwarded to court," said SP, Meena.

CPI-Maoist cadres abducted a trader, identified as Ganapati Muduli in Malkangiri District, because of suspicions that he might have shared information about their camp with the Police that led to the gun-battle. The Police said the rebels took villagers along with them to carry their belongings from one place to another inside the forest on certain occasions.

CPI-Maoist cadres killed a villager, after charging him to be a 'Police Informer' at Orapadar village inside the cut-off area across the Balimela reservoir in Andrahal Panchayat in Malkangiri District. Around 20 CPI-Maoist cadres entered into the house of the person and kidnapped him. The CPI-Maoist cadres later killed him by slitting his throat on the outskirts of the village. The identity of the deceased is yet to be established, said SP, Jagmohan Meena.

A total of 29 road projects estimated at INR 3.5002 billion were approved for the CPI-Maoist-affected Malkangiri and Koraput Districts in the first governing body meeting of the newly constituted OSRCPA held at State capital Bhubaneswar. Chief Secretary Arvind Prasad Padhi presiding over the meeting directed the concerned department to expedite the processes of tender, award of work and complete the projects before the scheduled time, and to ensure quality in construction through regular check and monitoring. Of the sanctioned roads, 13 would be constructed in Boipariguda, Koraput, Lamatapur, Narayanpatna and Semiliguda blocks of Koraput District and 16 roads to be built in Kalimela, Khairaput, Korukonda, Kudumulu Gumma, Malkangiri, Mathili and Podia blocks of Malkangiri District. The Centre and State Government would share funds at 60:40. The main objective of OSRCPA is to provide seamless road connectivity in the Maoist-hit areas of the State. As per the decision, a three-tier quality monitoring system would be put in place.

A Senior Lawyer, identified as Upendra Nayak was arrested by the Police at Paralakhemundi in Gajapati District. He was arrested for his alleged links with CPI-Maoist and produced in court in Mohana. At least 11 cases, all related to CPI-Maoist, are pending against Nayak in G. Udayagiri and Adaba Police Stations. Nayak was in touch with the CPI-Maoist when they were active in 2009-10. Besides he had also provided logistic support to the CPI-Maoist cadres during the period, said Police.

Odisha Government would seek INR 700 million from the Centre under the SRE scheme for the financial year 2018-19. The amount would be spent to strengthen Police Infrastructure in 19 LWE-hit Districts of the State.

Two SOG commandos sustained minor injuries in an IED explosion during an anti- Naxal operation at Badajhola forest under Sunabeda sanctuary in the Nuapada District. CPI-Maoist cadres exchanged fire with multiple SOG teams in the forests. Some of the CPI-Maoist cadres also sustained critical injuries and managed to flee. The SFs recovered CPI-Maoist dresses, haversack, blankets, utensil, rations, medicines, Maoist literature, wire, battery and polythene, said Police release.

Two CPI-Maoist militia cadres identified as Raghunath Nayak and Peter Mallick of Birikote village under Mohana block in Gajapati District. The arrested duo were involved in a number of deadly attacks carried out in and around the Birikote area by the CPI-Maoist in 2008, said Mukesh Lakra, IIC, Adaba Police Station.

Cadres of the PLFI, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, killed a civilian identified as Haridarshan Sahu, a paddy trader, at Bagdega Square under Bisra Police Station limits in Sundargarh District. Sahu was procuring paddy at Bagdega Bazar, when 2-3 PLFI cadres came there on bike and opened fire two rounds of bullet at Sahu. Later on, Sahu succumbed to his injuries.

The BSF busted a CPI-Maoist hideout and seized arms and explosives in the Chiliba forest in Koraput District. Acting on a tip off, BSF's 13 battalion conducted combing operation in the area and recovered 2 SBML guns, one IED, three kilograms of ammonium nitrate, detonators, petrol, 12 volt battery from the hideout under Machkund Police Station area in the District. The arms and explosives have been hidden in a bunker in the forest. It is suspected that the rebels had stored those to attack the jawans in future, the BSF personnel said.

A Maoist cadre, identified as Sumitra Dharua alias Geeta alias Shanti (19), surrendered before Police at Boden Police Station in Nuapada District. Sumitra, who used to work for the Mainpur-Nuapada division of the rebels for the past two years, had prize money of INR 100,000 on her head. Sumitra said she decided to surrender as she was subjected to regular torture by the senior Maoist leaders. "They had forcibly taken me from my home and inducted in the Maoists organisation. I didn't like it, but was unable to return either. Later, the Chhattisgarhi and Telugu rebels began to torture me. I was not keeping good health. Finally, I decided to quit as I wanted to lead a normal life," said Sumitra.

The BSF personnel have intensified combing operation in Boipariguda area of the Koraput District bordering Chhattisgarh and Lamataput area bordering Malkangiri District for the past couple of days. The SFs have received information about plans of the Maoists to carry out more attacks on the jawans in these areas, they said.

The Odisha Government is following a two-pronged strategy of stepping up operation against CPI-Maoist while also accelerating the pace of development work in remote areas hit by LWE insurgency. The focus of the Government's development drive would be expansion of core infrastructure such as roads and bridges and construction of schools and hospitals. Steps will also be taken to ensure that schools and hospitals in the insurgency-hit Districts, such as Koraput and Malkangiri, do not face shortage of teachers and doctors. "Security forces have been asked to go all out against the Maoists, but there is equal focus on development initiatives as this would help the government win the confidence of the people whom the rebels have been trying to convert to their cause," said an official from the Unified Command, the highest decision making body in such matters.

Former CPI-Maoist leader and OMP chief, Sabyasachi Panda, who is presently lodged in the Brahmapur jail in Ganjam District, will contest in the forthcoming 2019 general elections. He will contest as an independent candidate from any constituency in Odisha. He is not convicted in any of the cases against him, so there is no problem for him in contesting elections, said Subhashree alias Mili Panda, wife of Panda.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik asserted that CPI-Maoist menace has shown a decline in the State. "There has been an all round improvement in Police services. About 20 Districts were affected by LWE but now it is down to one or two," Naveen said while addressing the valedictory function of the 60th Senior Police Officers' Conference in the State capital, Bhubaneswar. The CM said, Police can achieve more and reach global standards. He proposed that a few SPs could make suggestions regarding improving policing and asked the Chief Secretary and DGP to make a note of it and filter out the better suggestions.

CPI-Maoist cadres organised a 'Praja Meli' (Villagers Assembly) inside the Cheruberu forest in the cut off areas of Malkangiri District, along the AOB following a call given by Maoist 'commander' identified as Ora Nageswar Rao. Nageswar and his brigade delivered speeches urging the locals to join protests against Police and its anti-Maoist operations and held discussions on drinking water, electricity and transportation. Thousands of tribals including women and youth brandishing traditional arms and weapons were seen at the 'Praja Meli'. According to sources, nearly three thousand tribal men and women congregated for this meeting. Such meetings of CPI-Maoist cadres to influence locals will have no impact and they will be dealt with a firm hand, said SP, Jagmohan Meena.

The CPI-Maoist cadres killed a youth identified as Bijay Sahu (34), a shopkeeper in Salepali village under the Paikmal Police Station in Bargarh District. Sources said nearly 15 armed Maoists barged into Bijay's house at around 8 pm and dragged him out. Later, they abducted him to the nearby forest and subsequently killed him. A Maoist poster was found near the body of Sahu in which the rebels have stated that Sahu was a 'Police informer' and was killed for passing information to Police. The poster also mentioned that Sahu had reported to the police about presence of some Maoists in the village in September 2017. In the posters, the rebels have also threatened other locals that they would meet the same fate if they cooperate with the Police or other Security Forces.

Maoist posters demanding release of those who are in jail were found in many villages in Nuapada District. The posters were found pasted on the walls of villagers' houses and trees and houses in Nilji and Karlakhamar villages in Sinapali Police Station area and Jujghat and Chikal Chuan villages in Boden Police limits. The Maoists also felled trees and staged a road blockade in protest against alleged Police atrocities in these villages.

Naxal violence have seen a dip in the last three years since 2015 in Odisha, said MoS Hansraj Gangaram Ahir of UMHA in a written statement as submitted in the Lok Sabha on the issue of Naxal menace in the country. Odisha saw a dip of 12 per cent of incidents related to Naxal attacks in the last three years since 2015. The statement said that in 2015 Odisha reported a total of 92 incidents which came down to 81 in 2017, while it was 86 in 2016. Similarly, civilian deaths also fell in the last three years from 25 in 2015, 24 in 2016 and 21 in 2017. In the national level, incidents of Naxal decreased by 20 per cent, while overall casualties decreased by 34 per cent. The Central Government also approved SCAS which envisages an outlay of INR 1000 crore for three years for 35 worst affected LWE Districts to cover gaps in critical infrastructure and services.

Odisha Governor SC Jamir said Activities of Naxals remained under control with no significant activities being noticed in the Districts of Gajapati, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Mayurbhanj and Nabarangpur of Odisha, while it was contained to a large extent in Nuapada, Boudh, Nayagarh, Keonjhar, Sambalpur, Deogarh and Sundargarh Districts in Odisha. The ex-gratia amount has been enhanced from INR 100,000 to INR 300,000 per civilian victim, while Compassionate Grant for Security Personnel, who are victims of LWE violence, has been increased from INR 200,000 to INR 400,000.

Posters released by CPI-Maoist were recovered from Mundigarh village under Tumudibandha Police limits in Kandhamal District. The posters released by the Bansadhara-Ghumusar-Nagavali (BGN) division of the CPI-Maoist were seen pasted on the walls at several places along Sesarigaon-Gangapada road. The Maoists have demanded engagement of local people in road construction works instead of machines, regular payment of wages to workers, conservation of forest and water resources in the district and complete ban on liquor. The Maoists have also condemned loot, extortion and murder in the name of Maoist and warned that those indulging in such activities would be punished in 'Praja Court' for the offence.

Two CPI-Maoist cadres identified as Gourang Hantal and Budu Khara, both aged around 31 years, were arrested by the SFs from Nuagurha area of Malkangiri District. The arrested CPI-Maoist cadres are residents of Ghanabeda under Chitrakonda Police Station in the District. They have confessed of helping CPI-Maoist in organising meetings and providing them logistic support.

A group of CRPF personnel had a narrow escape as they detected a powerful landmine in Range Fire area of Reserve Police at Barijhola village in Rayagada District. The SFs found the explosive suspected to be planted by the CPI-Maoist cadres to target the personnel. The personnel, along with Rayagada Police, defused the landmine and intensified combing operation in the area.

During a combing operation launched by the Odisha Police, an exchange of fire between the CPI-Maoist cadres and the SFs, took place near Lunga Hills in Bonai in Sundargarh District. Sources said that one Maoist sustained bullet injury during the combing operation that began at around 8 pm. Maoist 'commander' Anmol fled the spot after SF personnel opened fire at the Maoist camp at forest under Mahulpada Police limits in Bonai. However, Police recovered huge ammunition, explosives, firearms and Maoist items from the camp.

A jawan of the DVF identified as Sanjay Majhi (22) was killed in a landmine explosion triggered by CPI-Maoist cadres near Sakata village under Munikhol Panchayat within Muniguda Police limits in Rayagada District. Majhi was a native of Ambadola village. The incident occurred when a team of DVF was returning to their base camp after combing operation in the Niyamgiri hills. SFs are yet to reach the explosion site due to darkness.

CPI-Maoist 'Divisional Committee Secretary' identified as Kunu Dehury, carrying a reward of INR 800,000 on his head, surrendered before the Odisha Police in Sambalpur District. Kanu is a native of Taparsingha village under Jujumara Police Station limits in Sambalpur District and was a part of the military wing of the CPI-Maoist and involved in Maoist activities in Sambalpur, Deogarh and adjoining areas. He has been spearheading all the Naxal activities in three four Districts and adjoining areas like Rourkela and Angul. He joined as a Naxal cadre in 2002, when the organisation was being called MCCI and later on in 2004 he continued his activities with the CPI-Maoist. He has been involved in as many as 51 criminal cases mostly in Sambalpur, Deogarh and Rourkela Police Districts. Kunu surrendered primarily due to loss of faith in the ideology of the Maoists and also in view of the continued counter Naxal operations by the SFs, said DGP, RP Sharma.

A former Sarpanch was grievously injured when suspected CPI-Maoist cadres fired at him in broad daylight at a weekly 'haat' at Dandabadi village under Boipariguda Block in Koraput District. The deceased has been identified as the former Sarpanch of Ramagiri Panchayat, Anand Nayak. According to reports, a group of 10-12 Maoists came in civil dress and shot at Nayak at around 2 pm when he was going to a local market and fled the spot. Nayak sustained critical bullet injuries on his head and belly.

CPI-Maoist cadres killed a civilian identified as Hirasingh Majhi (45), a former sarpanch and dumped his body at Sahajpani forest, five kilometers away from Bhainsadani Gram Panchayat under Boden Police limits in Nuapada District of Odisha. Majhi had served as the Sarpanch of Bhainsadani Gram Panchayat from 2007 to 2012. He had earlier set a Panchayat office on fire in the name of CPI-Maoist cadres, was shot dead by CPI-Maoist cadres.

CPI-Maoist couple, identified as Dayanand alias Chhotu Ganjhu (28) and Jali Dehury alias Amrita (18), surrendered before the Angul District Police in Angul District of Odisha. Dayanand, 'section commander' in the Sambalpur-Deogarh-Sundargarh Division of CPI-Maoist, carrying a reward of INR 400,000 on his head was involved in 15 high profile cases. He has escaped from the Chaibasa jail of Jharkhand in 2015 and ransacked a forest beat house at Chhotkei in Satkosia Gorge sanctuary. He joined Maoist organization in 2000. Jali, who is from Angul District, had joined the outfit in 2017, said Superintendent of Police (SP), Mitrabhanu Mahapatra.

CPI-Maoist cadres have abducted four civilians including a village guard, identified as Babula Naik, Raju Naik, Khetra Harijan and Bisikeshan Harijan from Lakhapadar village under the Bijepur Police Station in Kalahandi District. SFs suspect that around 10-12 CPI-Maoist cadres abducted four civilians at gun point believing them to be 'Police Informers', said SP, Sandeep Madkar.

SFs recovered a huge cache of explosives near Kodaput jungle of Ankadeli under Machhkund Police Station limits in Koraput District. SFs recovered gelatin sticks, battery, live wire, detonators, fuel and Maoist materials hidden in a bush.

Odisha CM, Naveen Patnaik in State Assembly said that recruitment to the CPI-Maoist declined and its support base rendered weak, due to pro-active security and development measures. The number of civilian killings by Maoists has also decreased. Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Gajapati, Jajpur and Dhenkanal Districts have been declared by the Central Government as free from LWE activities.

CPI-Maoist posters were recovered by SFs at Dandabadi Panchayat under Baipariguda Police Station limits in Koraput District. CPI-Maoist posters awarded death penalty to five civilians identified as Anand Nayak of Ratakhand village, Pulo Nayak, Lokiram Barik and Suri Barik of Dandabadi village and Kobiraj Kara of Majhiguda village in the District. The posters signed by Malkangiri-Koraput-Visakhapatnam Border Divisional Committee (MKVBDC) of the CPI-Maoist also accused Government officers of indulging in corrupt practices in the name of development in the tribal areas.

Three civilians identified as Bharat Gond and Dasarath Jani of Marangpalli village and Lokiram Gond of Lalmati village were killed in a landmine blast, suspected to be planted by CPI-Maoist cadres near Mundibedha village under the Raighar Police Station limits in Nabarangpur District. Three labourers killed in the landmine blast were returning home by a tractor after completing their work saw near the roadside of Venus village a suspicious piece of rag tied in a branch of a tree. The trio got down of the vehicle to check the rag. Suddenly, the landmine exploded killing then on the spot. Police suspect that the landmine was planted by Maoists to target SFs.

A civilian indentified as Gupta Pradhani (50) was injured in a landmine blast triggered by suspected CPI-Maoist cadres near Kaliajhola in under Boipariguda Police Station limits in Koraput District. CPI-Maoist cadres planted the explosives targeting SFs engaged in anti-Maoist operations. The posters of CPI-Maoist were spotted at the locality where the Maoists had raised objection to road construction work by the Government and had asked contractors to immediately leave the area or to be ready to face dire consequences, said Police.

CPI-Maoist cadre identified as Mukesh Hembram, surrendered before the Rourkela Police in Sundargarh District. Mukesh, a native of Jaganathpur village under the Tikayatpalli Police Station of the District, had joined CPI-Maoist as a cadre in 2013.

At least 10 families of Trilochanpur village under Bijepur Police limits in Lanjigarh Block of Kalahandi District abandoned their village, fearing CPI-Maoist cadre attacks. Police are trying to locate and thereafter help the villagers. The combing operations against CPI-Maoist are continuing in this area, said SP, M Sambeet Sampat.

Odisha Police recovered CPI-Maoist posters at Tinikonia Chhak in Malkangiri District. The handwritten banners were found hanging on trees and walls urging the locals to celebrate the 200th birth anniversary of Karl Marx. The posters by the Kalimela Regional Committee of CPI-Maoist called upon the tribal people to inculcate the ideology of Karl Marx which would help them solve various problems in the society.

Odisha Police busted a CPI-Maoist camp and exchanged fire with Maoists during combing operations inside Sodiguda forested area under Mathili Police Station limits in Malkangiri District. Police have recovered six mobile phones, Maoist literature and daily use items from the camp, said SP, Jagmohan Meena.

Two CPI-Maoist cadres were killed in an encounter near Dudukamal under Belpada Block in Bolangir District. Maoist cadre Sanjib who carried a cash reward was killed in the encounter, Police informed. An AK 47 and an INSAS assault rifle have been recovered from the spot. The identity of another rebel killed in the encounter is yet to be ascertained. The rebels were killed after the SFs launched a combing operation on getting specific intelligence input about the presence of the Maoists at a villager's house

Four CPI-Maoist cadres, including two women were killed during exchange of fire with Police at Godanki village under Kandhamal sadar Police Station limits in Kandhamal District. The Police recovered eight weapons including an AK-47 and an INSAS assault rifle from the spot. The encounter started with firing by CPI-Maoist cadres at Police during the search operation. The retaliation from Police led to the killing of four CPI-Maoist cadres, said SP, Prateek Singh.

Odisha Police killed a CPI-Maoist cadre in an encounter at Sudukumpa reserve forest in Kandhamal District. The slain Maoist was active in 'KKBN division' of the CPI-Maoist in the State. Giving details of the encounter in the area on May 13, SP, Pratik Singh said one of the Maoists killed in the District was identified as Sankar Majhi (37), who carried a reward of INR 500,000 on his head. The identities of four others, including the one who was killed, is yet to be ascertained, the SP said. The Police recovered 11 rifles, including an AK-47 rifle, ammunition and Maoist literature from the encounter site from May 13, added SP, Singh. Earlier, SATP had reported that four CPI-Maoist cadres, including two women were killed during exchange of fire with Police at Godanki village under Kandhamal sadar Police Station limits in Kandhamal District on May 13.

CPI-Maoist cadres allegedly killed a civilian on suspicion of being a 'Police informer' at Temurupalli village under Mathili Police limits in Malkangiri District. The deceased has been identified as Jagdish Somrath. According to sources, a group of 15-30 Maoist cadres called Jagdish from his house and forcibly took him to Katapalli, where they slit his throat. A poster mentioning the name of 'Kanger Ghati Area Committee' of the Maoists was also found from the spot. The poster mentioned that Jagdish has been working as a 'Police informer' since 2016. The poster also warned the locals to stay away from Police or meet the same fate.

State DGP, R P Sharma, informed that Odisha and Andhra Pradesh will jointly launch anti- CPI-Maoist operations to flush out the rebels from the State. After attending a meeting with his counterpart in Andhra Pradesh, DGP, Sharma said the meeting laid emphasis on coordination between the two States during operations against the Maoists. We have decided at the meeting to undertake joint operations in Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border," Sharma stated, adding that Odisha Police would intensify intelligence-based operations against the Maoists. Besides, efforts are on to further strengthen the intelligence network in Koraput, Nuapada, Malkangiri, Kalahandi and Rayagada Districts where Maoists pose challenge to the State Government, he added. DGP, Sharma, further added that Odisha will coordinate more closely with other States like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand to come down heavily on the Maoists.

Odisha CM, Naveen Patnaik appealed to the Maoists to surrender arms and join the mainstream. CM Patnaik's appeal came close on the heels of seven Maoists being killed during separate anti-Maoist operations in Bolangir and Kandhamal Districts in the last week end. Stating that UHM, Rajnath Singh congratulated him on Odisha polices success in anti-Maoist operations, Patnaik said in a tweet it was high time for the misguided youths to surrender arms and join the mainstream. He also said that there was no place for violence in democracy. Earlier, last month in a statement in the Assembly, Patnaik had said that the LWE had been contained and controlled in many Districts even as it remained a challenge in certain pockets of Malkangiri, Koraput, Bolangir, Nuapada and Rayagada District

At least one cadre of the CPI-Maoist was killed and huge catch of items were seized from a Maoist camp which was raided in Ramaguda village in Malkangiri District. As per the information given by ADG, Operations, RP Koche on the operation, a joint group of Greyhounds, BSF and SOG raided a Maoist camp located near Balimela Reservoir during combing on May 16. An encounter erupted between the combing party and Maoists at a later stage which left one uniformed Maoist dead. However, a number of Maoists managed to sneak into the dense forest after blasting landmines during the firing. Security personnel also seized one SLR rifle and a .303 rifle from the spot along with some daily use goods. The identity of the slain Maoist is yet to be ascertained.

Around 10 suspected CPI-Maoist cadres have set ablaze a truck near Tikarpada under the Bandhugaon Police Station in Koraput District. The vehicle was travelling from Andhra Pradesh and the driver, identified as Shankar was assaulted by the suspected Maoists after intercepting and set ablaze the vehicle.

Anti-CPI-Maoist posters were found in various parts of Kalyansinghpur in Rayagada District. The posters condemned the violent activities of Maoists and urged the red rebels to stop violence and killing dalits, women and youths in the tribal-dominated areas including Niyamgiri. The posters were put up by Adivasi Ekta Samiti at the walls of Kalyansinghpur high school and Jagannath temple.

Two CPI-Maoist cadres and two civilians were injured during an exchange of fire with the SFs in Kholibhitar area inside Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary in Nuapada District. The injured CPI-Maoist duos are identified as Chatur Chinda (50) and Bidya Chinda (40) from Kholibhitar. Maoists fired at Police teams during combing operation following which the SFs retaliated on May 22. The injured CPI-Maoist duos were rushed to the District headquarters hospital, SP, Smith P Parmar. The Police recovered two rifles, 16 rounds of ammunition, one knife, uniforms, Maoist literature and cash of INR 1,150, adds SP, Parmar. In the same incident, two villagers were caught in the crossfire between the SFs and the Maoists and injured after some stray bullets hit them, when they were trying to flee from the encounter spot. Both the civilians were rushed to the hospital in Burla in critical conditions.

BSF personnel recovered explosives and several Maoist articles from a cave during a combing operation in the Bhijengiwada forest in Malkangiri District. The ammunition recovered by Police from the Maoists includes a country-made gun, an AK-47 magazine, bullets, gelatin sticks and detonators.

The 'KKBN division' of CPI-Maoist has called for the day-long bandh in Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Boudh and Nayagarh Districts. CPI-Maoist posters were found in Gatangi and Baliguda in Kandhamal District calling for the bandh. The 'KKBN division' condemned the killings during combing operations by Police and SOG personnel in Sudukumpa forest near Golanki village in the Kandhamal District on May 13-14. The rebels also blocked major roads near Pokharibandha and Baliguda on May 23, by placing tree branches, disrupting vehicular traffic on the route.

Odisha Police recovered CPI-Maoist poster wrapped on a tree near Kalimela area in Malkangiri District. CPI-Maoist poster calls for protest against PM Narendra Modi's visit to Odisha scheduled on May 26. The 'South Sub-Zonal Bureau' of the CPI-Maoist, through the poster alleged that Modi does not want development of SC, ST and minority people of the Odisha State and he will sell various mines of the State to the foreign countries. Police has put tight security arrangements in place for PM Narendra Modi's scheduled visit to Odisha on May 26, said Government officials.

CPI-Maoist cadre identified as K Lakshmi alias Kamala alias Sweta, carrying a reward of INR 400,000 on her head, surrendered before Malkangiri SP, Jagmohan Meena in Malkangiri District. She is wife of Maoist leader Dhananjaya Gope alias Sudheer, is a native of Arabeti village within Kalimela Police limits in the District. She joined CPI-Maoist in 2008 and was working as the cadre of Gumma Area Committee of MKVB Division under the jurisdiction of AOBSZC of the CPI-Maoist. Sweta was involved in the killing of two civilians in Silakota village in 2014 and Kattama of Gusumpadar village in 2016, setting JCB machines of a contractor engaged in road construction near Mudulipada and Piplapdar, Damanjodi hilltop attack in 2001 and exchange of fire with SFs in Ramguda village in 2016, said SP Jagmohan Meena.

As many as 107 surrendered cadres of the CPI-Maoist appeared at IGNOU term-end examination in Kendriya Vidyalaya centre in Malkangiri District. Under the initiative of SP, Jagmohan Meena, the District Police had launched 'Mission Education' to educate the surrendered Maoists and unemployed poor and tribal youths last year. The objective of the mission was to provide free education to the rebels who had shunned violence and joined the mainstream.

CPI-Maoist cadres attacked a road construction camp in Sinapali block and set ablaze a number of vehicles located along Gorla-Dumerbahal Road in Nuapada District. CPI-Maoist cadres threatened and driven out the workers from the camp, later they set ablaze a mixture machine to fire and then went on torching other vehicles kept in the camp. As the panicked workers fled away from the spot, CPI-Maoist cadres put up a number of posters at different places inside the camp criticizing the alleged Police excess on innocent civilians in the name of anti-Maoist operations. The posters recovered by Police were released in the name of Odisha State Committee of CPI-Maoist called for Bandh in Nuapada, Balangir and Bargarh Districts along with Mahasamund and Gariabandh Districts of Chhattisgarh protesting against Police encounter which killed six CPI-Maoist cadres in Kandhamal and Balangir Districts on May 23, 2018.