India, Dec. 26 -- Top Maoist leader Ganesh Uike, who carried a reward of INR 1.1 crore on his head, was among six red rebels killed in gun battles with security forces in Odisha's Kandhamal district, police said on Thursday. Union Home Minister Amit Shah called it a "breakthrough," while Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi described it as a "remarkable success" to build a Naxal-free India.

CPI(Maoist) central committee member Uike, 69, was the chief of the banned outfit in Odisha, a senior officer heading anti-Naxal operations in the state said.

Two Maoists from Chhattisgarh were killed in an exchange of fire with security forces in Gumma forest in the Belghar police station area on Wednesday night. Fresh gun battles took place in a fores...