IED event in Odisha, Malkangiri District area, India on Wed 4th February 2026

An ‘area committee member (ACM)’ of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) surrendered before Police in Malkangiri District of Odisha on February 4, reports The Times of India. The surrendered cadre has been identified as Sukhram Markam alias Suresh alias Yogesh (32), a ‘commander’ of the Kangerghati Area Committee, with a bounty of INR 2.1 million on his head. He also surrendered a Self Loading Rifle (SLR) rifle, ammunition, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and other Maoist materials. Police said Sukhram, a native of Sukma District in Chhattisgarh, joined the CPI-Maoist in 2010 and rose through the hierarchy after training in ideology, weapons handling and guerrilla tactics. He was allegedly involved in several violent incidents across Odisha and Chhattisgarh. “With sustained security operations and development activities reaching deep into remote areas, Maoist activities have now been contained and we declare the district free from Maoist influence,” said Additional Director General of Police (ADG), anti-Naxal operations, Sanjeeb Panda. “However, there is no room for complacency. Forces will remain on high alert and intelligence-based area dominance exercises will continue,” he added. Following the surrender Malkangiri becomes the third district under the south-western range after Nuapada and Nabarangpur to achieve Maoist-free status.