Top Maoist Ganesh Uike, Rs 1.1 Cr Bounty, Killed in Odisha Encounter

• Ganesh Uike, a top Maoist commander with a Rs 1.1 crore bounty, was killed in an encounter in Odisha's Kandhamal district.
• He was a Central Committee member and a key figure in the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) for over four decades.
• Uike, from Telangana, led CPI(Maoist) in Odisha since December 2024 and previously headed the Karnataka-Kerala-Tamil Nadu south regional bureau.
• His neutralization is a major blow to Maoist activities, with officials stating it broke the backbone of the movement in Odisha.
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah called it a "major breakthrough" towards a Naxal-free India by March 31, 2026.

Why It Matters: Top Maoist Ganesh Uike's death in Odisha encounter deals a significant blow to Naxal activities.