At least 19 Maoists were killed, 39 arrested and 27 others surrendered during the year 2018, Odisha Director General of Police R. P. Sharma said on Monday.
Mr. Sharma said the overall Left Wing Extremism situation remained under control even as there was need to flush out Maoists from parts of Malkangiri, Koraput, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Kandhamal and Nuapada districts.
LWE-hit districts
He said the number of LWE-affected districts has come down to 15 from 19 this year.
The security personnel had seized 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 teams have also been fighting the Maoists in different districts, he added.
Funds allocated
The DGP also said that a sum of ₹68.91 crore has been provided in the State budget, for modernisation of the police force, during the 2018-19 fiscal.
The Economic Offences Wing of Odisha Crime Branch registered 28 cases in the year 2018 and arrested 103 persons, the DGP said.