Bhubaneswar, Dec. 25 -- In a significant breakthrough in Odisha's ongoing anti-Maoist operations, six Maoists, including top hardcore leader Ganesh Uike, were killed in encounters with security forces in Kandhamal district.
Ganesh, a central committee member and in-charge of Odisha, carried a cash reward of Rs. 1.10 crore on his headOdisha DGP Y B Khurania described the killing of Ganesh as a major blow that has "completely shattered the backbone of the Red rebels" in the state.
The encounter occurred in the Chakapad police station area along the Kandhamal-Ganjam border on Thursday morning, during the second day of a joint operation involving the Special Operation Group (SOG) of Odisha Police, CRPF, BSF, and the District Voluntary Force....