19 Maoists killed in Odisha in 2018: DGP

At least 19 Maoists were killed, 39 arrested and 27 others surrendered during the year 2018, the Director General of Police (DGP) of Odisha, R P Sharma, said on Monday.

The DGP said the overall Left Wing Extremism (LWE) situation remained under control even as there was need to flush out Maoists from parts of Malkangiri, Koraput, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Kandhamal and Nuapada districts.

Sharma said the number of LWE-affected districts has come down to 15 from 19 this year.

The security personnel have been able to seize 40 weapons, including two AK-47 rifles, eight SLRs, five INSAS rifles and five 303 guns from the Maoists during combing operations, the DGP said.

While 16 battalions of central para military forces are deployed in the Maoist-hit areas, the state's elite Special Operations Group (SOG) teams have also been fighting against the Maoists in different districts, the DGP added.

The DGP also said that a sum of Rs 68.91 crore has been provided in the budget, for modernisation of the police force, during the 2018-19 fiscal.

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Odisha Crime Branch registered 28 cases in the year 2018 and arrested 103 persons, the DGP said.