Koraput Turns The Page On Three Decades Of Maoist Violence
Bhubaneswar : After more than three decades defined by Maoist violence, fear and disrupted development, Odisha’s Koraput district has been officially declared Maoist-free; It’s a milestone that signals the end of one of the state’s longest-running homeland security challenges.
Once a major bastion of left-wing extremism, the indivisible Koraput has repeatedly witnessed police station bombings, mine explosions, kidnappings of elected representatives and targeted killings. The insurgency has paralyzed infrastructure projects and isolated large sections of the tribal belt, deepening economic and social vulnerabilities.
Maoist activity has steadily declined over the past five years, helped by coordinated security operations and surrender and rehabilitation initiatives, officials said. Following the Centre’s 2026 nationwide deadline to eliminate Maoist influence, joint operations have intensified at the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh-Chhattisgarh junction. Many senior Maoist leaders were neutralized, large arms caches were seized, and dozens of cadres surrendered to join the mainstream.
Security forces, including central paramilitary units, Odisha’s Special Operations Group and elite anti-Naxal teams, have maintained constant pressure in dense forest corridors that once served as insurgent hideouts. Authorities have paired sanctions with financial aid, skills programs and reintegration packages aimed at encouraging defection.
Koraput’s Maoist past has been shaped by long-standing grievances linked to underdevelopment, governance deficits and alleged corruption in tribal areas. Rebel groups routinely targeted police infrastructure, destroyed communications networks, and blocked road construction, stalling the state’s existence. Human losses were serious: civilians and security personnel died in repeated mine explosions and ambushes.
Major flashpoints included coordinated police station attacks in 2004, a mine blast in 2009 that killed nine security personnel, the 2010 Damanjodi hill attack that left 10 CISF jawans dead and the 2012 kidnapping of then MLA Jhina Hikaka, which attracted national attention.
The official declaration symbolically brought to a close a turbulent period following the surrender of a female Maoist cadre on Thursday. But officials warn that peace must be strengthened through sustained vigilance and inclusive development to prevent a recurrence of the disease.
“The passage of Koraput is not just a security victory; it is a test of whether the administration can fill the vacuum occupied by the rebels,” said Chandrabhanu Singh, a local human rights activist.
