Bhubaneswar, Nov 22: Odisha Director General of Police (DGP) Y B Khurania on Saturday reaffirmed the state police’s commitment to meeting the Union Home Ministry’s deadline of March 31, 2026, to eliminate Maoists from Indian soil, officials said.

DGP Khurania’s remarks came after chairing a high-level review meeting with senior officers of the CRPF and BSF at Phulbani in Kandhamal district.

Focus on Kandhamal

Khurania noted that Kandhamal remains the lone district in Odisha still witnessing Maoist activity. “All concentrations are now on Kandhamal,” said a senior officer involved in anti-Maoist operations. He added that while only a handful of Odia-speaking cadres remain in the organisation, most Maoists operating in the region hail from neighbouring Chhattisgarh, with the number of local members estimated at no more than eight.

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Strategy Against Extremism

The DGP highlighted the multi-pronged strategy adopted by the state government to tackle Left-Wing Extremism. This includes intensified counter-insurgency operations, developmental projects in affected areas, and strict action against ganja cultivation—a major source of Maoist funding.

“We have achieved major success in Boudh, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Malkangiri, and Koraput by destroying ganja cultivation carried out by Maoist supporters. Ganja smuggling was their main source of funds, and this has now been stopped,” Khurania said.

Progress and Next Steps

The meeting reviewed progress made so far and discussed the next course of action to ensure the complete elimination of Maoist influence in Odisha. The DGP emphasized that the police, in coordination with central forces, are determined to meet the 2026 deadline and restore peace and security in the region.