Latest news with #SanjeebPanda
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Toll-free number soon to provide info on Maoists
1 2 Bhubaneswar: Odisha Police have decided to introduce a toll-free number to gather intelligence about Maoist activities. Informers providing credible information will receive monetary rewards while maintaining their anonymity, ADG (anti-Naxal operations) Sanjeeb Panda said on Tuesday. "We will soon circulate the toll-free number for public knowledge. Support of the public is essential to achieve the Centre's target of wiping out Maoist menace from the country by March 2026," said Panda, who assumed charge on Tuesday following his appointment last week. Panda said a comprehensive roadmap is being finalised to eliminate left-wing extremism (LWE) from the state. He also emphasised on intelligence-based operations against Maoists. "We will intensify anti-Maoist operations through proper coordination between special intelligence wing, special operation group, district voluntary force, Central Reserve Police Force, Border Security Force and district police," Panda said, adding that Kandhamal and Rayagada are the focus areas of the operations. According to Odisha Police, the state's LWE situation remains under control compared to Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, where recent operations resulted in casualties of a large number of Maoist. Police said that while 10 districts — Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Boudh, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Balangir, and Bargarh — are officially LWE-affected, three districts — Koraput, Rayagada and Nabarangpur — have recorded no Maoist incidents in three years.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Govt appoints ADG Panda as head of anti-Maoist operations
Bhubaneswar: State govt on Wednesday appointed ADG Sanjeeb Panda to exclusively lead anti-Maoist operations, a new post in Odisha police, with about eight months remaining before the Centre's March 2026 deadline to eliminate Maoists from the country. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Earlier, the director (intelligence) managed anti-Maoist operations. The govt also appointed Akhileshvar Singh as DIG of special intelligence wing (SIW), a dedicated unit responsible for gathering Maoist intelligence and supporting anti-Maoist operations. Panda previously led SIW as a DIG-rank officer. Singh, formerly DIG (south-western range), exchanges posts with Kanwar Vishal Singh. The home department's notification read, "Panda, who was ADG (training), will look after functioning of both SIW and anti-Naxal operations. He will directly report to DGP." "The appointment aims to further strengthen anti-Maoist operations in accordance with Union home minister Amit Shah's directive to eliminate Naxals nationwide by March 2026," a senior police officer said. The creation of the maiden anti-Maoist chief position is particularly significant as chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi prepares to attend the Eastern Zonal Council meeting in Ranchi on Thursday, chaired by Shah. The agenda encompasses inter-state matters and Left-wing extremism (LWE). Officers said that Panda will conduct a thorough assessment of anti-Maoist strategies in the wake of the recent theft of about 5,000kg of gelatin sticks by Maoists from a Sundargarh district quarry on May 27. The incident created concern as Sundargarh was removed from the list of LWE-affected districts last year. Odisha police claimed that the state's LWE situation remains in control compared to Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, where recent anti-Maoist operations resulted in casualties of a large number of rebels. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Police sources said that while 10 districts — Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Boudh, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Balangir and Bargarh — are officially LWE-affected, three — Koraput, Rayagada and Nabarangpur — have recorded no Maoist incidents in three years. The CM recently informed the assembly that only about 100-120 Maoists currently operate in the state. Records indicated that security forces eliminated 118 Maoists over the past decade. Between 2015 and Jan 2025, forces neutralised 118 Naxals, arrested 315 involved in Naxal activities, and facilitated 238 Maoist surrenders.
