TV
In a renewed offensive against Naxalism, Odisha Police will step up anti-Naxal operations across the State. A toll-free number will be launched to gather intelligence from the public, with assurances of confidentiality and rewards for informants.
Also Read: Odisha effects major IPS reshuffle: Sanjeeb Panda appointed ADG anti-Naxal operations
According to sources, the State is set to become Naxal-free, with law enforcement ramping up anti-Naxal operations under a new strategic framework. The Additional Director General (ADG) of Police, Sanjeeb Panda, has confirmed that enhanced focus will be placed on surveillance and intelligence activities in Naxal-affected regions.
To strengthen public participation, a toll-free number will be introduced where citizens can report the Naxal movement confidentially. Informants will be rewarded, and their identities will be kept strictly secret, official sources said.
After assuming responsibility for anti-Naxal operations, ADG Panda emphasised the need for a renewed strategy focusing on high-level intelligence gathering. He also noted that the operations would involve intensified action in vulnerable districts.
The move aligns with Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s 2026 deadline to make India Naxal-free. ADG Panda’s remarks came during an exclusive discussion with OTV, wherein the operational plans and tactical shifts were detailed.
This coordinated crackdown is seen as a critical step toward ending decades of insurgent activity that has affected several parts of the State.
“Naxal activities in Odisha are mostly centred now on the triple border along Kandhamal, Kalahandi and Rayagada districts. With active cooperation of these district administrations, SIW, SOG, BSF, and CRPF along with the DVF in different districts, we will intensify the anti-Naxal operations in various affected regions in the State,” the ADG stated.
“We will also launch joint operations in the bordering districts such as Sundargarh, Koraput, Nuapada, Nabarangpur, and Malkangiri with the cooperation of neighbouring states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh,” ADG Panda added.
Worth mentioning, in a significant reshuffle, Odisha government had issued orders on July 9 for transfer and posting of senior IPS officers across the State. As per a notification issued by the Home Department, Sanjeeb Panda, a 1994-batch IPS officer, was appointed as the ADG of anti-Naxal operations.
