India, March 1 -- Odisha Police has achieved a historic milestone in its sustained anti-Naxal operations as Director General of Police (DGP) YB Khurania today officially declared Balangir and Bargarh as Naxal-free districts.

A group of 15 Maoists laid down their arms in the Mahasamund district of neighbouring Chhattisgarh today. These cadres were active in the Bargarh and Balangir districts of Odisha and Mahasamund of Chhattisgarh. With this development, both Bargarh and Bolangir districts have now become free from Naxal activities, said the DGP.

According to him, sustained joint operations conducted over a prolonged period, precise intelligence inputs, coordinated efforts of central as well as state security forces, and active cooperat...