7 Naxals, 8 Civilians, 3 Security Personnel Killed in Maoist Violence in Odisha in 2022

Bhubaneswar: Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) or incidents of Maoist violence showed a marginal decline in Odisha in 2022 in comparison to 2021. This was stated in a white paper presented in the State Assembly on Tuesday.

According to the report, in 2022 anti-naxal operations across the state eliminated seven Maoists. During this year Odisha recorded 27 cases of Maoist violence. In them, seven red rebels were killed while 12 were arrested. At least eight civilians and three security personnel were killed, and three Maoists have surrendered in 2022, the white paper report submitted in the Assembly stated.

In 2021, the state had reported 28 incidents of Maoist violence, in which seven Maoists were killed and one security personnel was slain. Two civilians were also killed, while 36 red rebels were arrested and 21 had surrendered.

According to the white paper report, the state registered a 14.65 per cent rise in cognisable offences in 2022 as compared to 2021.

No political violence or communal incidents were reported in Odisha in 2022. A total of 1,55,420 cognisable offences were recorded in 2021, which increased to 1,78,190 in 2022.

The number of rapes and murders dipped in 2022 as compared to 2021. However, cases of theft, dacoity and other crimes saw a rise.

The state had registered 1,983 cybercrime cases, in which 441 were arrested and chargesheets filed in 272 cases, the report stated.