Bhubaneswar, Dec 8: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today informed that a total of 12 Maoists surrendered to the police, while 21 were killed in encounters during the past 18 months in Odisha.

Responding to a query from Congress MLA Taraprasad Bahinipati, Majhi informed the state Assembly said that between June 1, 2024, and November 30, 2025, 12 Maoists surrendered before the police, opting to join the mainstream, while 21 Maoists were killed in encounters across the state.

A majority of the encounter fatalities—17 of the 21 deaths—occurred in the Odisha–Chhattisgarh border region, where joint anti-Maoist operations by the security forces of both states were intensified during this period.

The Chief Minister emphasised that the government is continuing efforts to weaken Maoist influence in the affected regions.

As part of this push, the state has strengthened its incentive-based “Surrender and Rehabilitation Scheme,” which was recently revised and made more attractive from November 27, 2025, offering higher financial support and enhanced reintegration measures for cadres willing to give up arms.

He said nine districts in the state are currently covered under the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme, which supports strengthened counter-Maoist operations in regions affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE).

The Chief Minister stated that Kandhamal continues to be classified as an LWE-affected district. Meanwhile, Kalahandi, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Nuapada and Rayagada have been designated under the Legacy & Thrust (L&T) category. Along with two other notified areas, this brings the total SRE-covered districts to nine as of the first week of November 2025.