In a significant anti-Maoist initiative, Odisha Police have launched a poster campaign titled “Catch Maoists, Get Rewarded” in the Maoist-affected Gandhamardan region of Bolangir district.
The campaign urges Maoist cadres to surrender and return to the mainstream, while simultaneously encouraging the public to provide information about listed extremists in exchange for cash rewards. Posters have been put up across several locations in the region, marking a strategic shift in anti-Maoist operations.
The posters list 15 Maoist operatives and specify reward amounts for actionable intelligence leading to their arrest. The highest reward — Rs 65 lakh — has been announced for Sudarshan alias Bikash, identified as a Special Zonal Committee Member active in the Nuapada-Bolangir-Bargarh Gandhamardan belt.
Police contact numbers have been prominently displayed on the posters. Authorities have assured that the identity of informants will be kept strictly confidential to ensure their safety.
In earlier years, Maoists allegedly used posters in the region to threaten police personnel and local residents. The latest campaign represents a reversal of that tactic, with law enforcement now using posters to press for surrender and public cooperation.
Security agencies indicate that Maoist activity in the regionhas significantly declined in recent years. Estimates suggest that the remaining cadres are operating in small groups of four to five members, with an overall strength of around 14 to 15 individuals.
