Top Maoist Leader Killed in Gariaband Encounter, Boost for Odisha Police

Quick Summary

• Encounter in Chhattisgarh: Ten Maoists, including CPI (Maoist) central committee member Modem Balakrishna and another key leader Pramod, were killed in Gariaband district of Chhattisgarh on September 11, 2025.
• Impact on Odisha: Balakrishna’s death is considered significant for reducing left-wing extremist (LWE) activity in Odisha. He played a major role in strategizing Maoist expansion across teh State.
• Past Involvement: Balakrishna hailed from Warangal, Telangana, and was involved in major attacks sence the early 2000s, including an audacious raid on National Aluminium company facilities.
• Affected Divisions: Maoists operate through Dhamtari-Gariaband-Nuapada (DGN corridor), crossing borders between Chhattisgarh and Odisha using dense forests; Kandhamal remains a central axis for activity within Odisha.
• decreasing Influence in Odisha: LWE activities have dropped substantially over years. At peak influence, maoists affected 21 of Odisha’s districts; current numbers indicate operations limited to seven districts due to area domination by security forces.
• Challenges Ahead: Sundargarh district near Jharkhand border saw robberies and explosive thefts likely due to pressure on CPI (Maoist) cadres fleeing Jharkhand police actions. Enhanced security measures are being taken.

indian Opinion Analysis

Modem Balakrishna’s elimination signifies a crucial moment for efforts aimed at neutralizing left-wing extremism across eastern India. With his strategic importance among CPI (Maoist) cadres and decades-long involvement in organizing resistance against state forces, his loss marks both organizational disarray for Maoists and progress toward decreasing violent extremism.

Odisha’s approach-integrating local intelligence with consistent presence of specialized combative units-illustrates the long-term strategy required to deter extremist revival amid challenging terrain where borders facilitate movement between states like Chhattisgarh. Though, recent violence straying into Sundargarh highlights that diminishing operational zones can push insurgent groups to seek new footholds elsewhere.

Ultimately, while successes reduce active zones from two-thirds of districts down to seven today, vigilance remains essential as forest corridors continue enabling mobility under threat or pressure.

Read more: the Hindu