BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha government has clarified that Maoists whose operations are not confined to the state will not be eligible for benefits under its surrender and rehabilitation policy. However, Odia Naxals will receive benefits even if they are active outside Odisha, according to a Home Department notification.The revised policy, notified on 27 November 2025, had earlier left eligibility criteria undefined. The scheme, which offers an attractive reward package 10% higher than Chhattisgarh’s, previously only mentioned that it applied to Maoists surrendering with or without firearms.In the absence of clear guidelines, police feared that non-Odia Maoists not active in Odisha might exploit the scheme to claim the lucrative rewards. “The revised policy is more specific about eligibility,” a senior police officer said.Under the new rules, Maoists from any state will be eligible for the surrender policy if they are active in Odisha. Odia natives involved in Maoist activities outside the state can also surrender under the scheme, provided they are certified by the concerned superintendent of police. “In such cases, a no-objection certificate (NOC) must be obtained from the state where the Maoist was active, confirming that rehabilitation benefits have not already been extended there,” the notification said.Since the launch of Odisha’s revised surrender and rehabilitation policy for Maoists on 27 November 2025, at least 45 cadres have laid down arms, making them eligible for benefits worth a total of Rs 6.5 crore. Of this, nearly Rs 4.5 crore accounts for the bounty carried on their heads, while an additional Rs 2 crore will be extended as instant cash incentives and rewards for surrendering weapons.The recent surrender of senior Maoist couple Nikhil and Indu, along with 17 others in Rayagada and Kandhamal districts, has boosted the morale of anti-Maoist forces. Officials expect further desertions from the CPI (Maoist) organisation ahead of the Centre’s 31 March deadline to eliminate left-wing extremism (LWE) nationwide.Between 2006 and 2025, at least 610 Maoists surrendered in Odisha, including 24 in 2024 and 29 in 2025. Under the new policy, the state government has introduced a flat 10% increase in bounty amounts compared with Chhattisgarh’s offer.The surrendered cadres were associated with multiple Maoist formations, including the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC), Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC), Gadchiroli Area Committee, Kandhamal-Kalahandi-Boudh-Nayagarh (KKBN) division, Dhamtari–Gariaband–Nuapada (DGN) division, and Bansadhara-Ghumusar-Nagavali (BGN) division.From 19 January onwards, Odisha Police declared Nuapada, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Koraput, and Boudh districts Naxal-free in phases, following the surrender of the last active cadres in these regions.ADG (Anti-Naxal Operations) Sanjeeb Panda said fewer than 50 Maoists remain active in the state. Among them is CPI (Maoist) state committee member Sukru alias Krishna (49), a native of Malkangiri, who is currently active in Kandhamal.“Only a handful of cadres remain in the Kandhamal-Rayagada-Kalahandi tri-junction and Gandhamardan hills in Balangir. We are hopeful of more surrenders in the coming days. Our two-pronged approach—intensified operations and appeals for surrender—aims to meet the Centre’s 31 March deadline,” Panda said.On 3 February, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai informed the Lok Sabha that Kandhamal is the lone district in Odisha—and one of just eight nationwide—still under Maoist influence.Of the four LWE classifications—most affected, districts of concern, other-LWE affected, and legacy/thrust—Kandhamal falls under the “other-LWE affected” category. Legacy and thrust zones are areas where extremism has either been eradicated or is on the verge of collapse.“Districts declared Maoist-free remain under close surveillance to prevent relapse. We have not lowered our guards. At the same time, more forces have been mobilised in the Kandhamal-Rayagada-Kalahandi axis for intensified intelligence-based operations,” Panda added.
