Superintendent of Police Amit Bardar stated on Monday (December 29, 2025) that extremism in the Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOB SZC) within the Alluri Sitarama Raju (ASR) district has reached a critical turning point. This follows high-level security operations throughout 2024 and 2025 that systematically dismantled the group’s leadership.
Addressing the annual press conference at Paderu on Monday, the SP said that as many as seven Exchange of Fire (EOF) cases were registered in 2025, in which 18 Maoists were neutralised. There were nine arrests and 49 surrenders, he added.
He stated that the ASR district police has successfully organised various community policing initiatives to promote developmental change in ASR district, particularly to wean tribal youth and communities away from extremist activities and ganja transportation. Through community welfare initiatives like ‘Saral’, ‘Nirman’ and ‘Prerana’, around 1,800 youth were benefited, he said.
Sharp decline in ganja cases
Mr. Amit Bardar said that following effective steps and constant monitoring, there was a very sharp decline in ganja cases in 2025. This year, as many as 135 ganja cases were reported in which 14,484 kg ganja was seized, 35 kg hash oil was recovered and 358 persons were arrested. During 2024, the total ganja cases reported were 316 in which 23,366 kg ganja was recovered and 1,016 persons were arrested.
“We have verified 138 villages, where previous cultivation were identified by drones and Human Intelligence, and found that there was no ganja cultivation at all. Checks were also carried out at about 83 suspected ganja locations, where there was no ganja at all,” he added.
The SP also stated that 325 targeted families were provided with alternative livelihood support including crops, business loans, and income generation assistance.
Amit Bardar also said that there was 34% decline in overall crimes in 2025 compared to the previous year 2024. The law and order situation is under control in district due to advance collection of intelligence, prevention, quick response, augmentation of forces in strategic locations, effective beat system, special drives, visible policing, utilisation of advanced technology, close coordination with the stakeholders within the departments, he added.
The district has reported 20 murders in 2025 as against 27 in 2024 and 29 in 2023. During 2025, the district also saw 16 HB’s as against 14 in 2024, 22 rape cases in 2025, as against 25 in 2024.
Coming to accidents, as many as 248 accidents were reported in 2025. Of them, as many as 177 were fatal accidents in which 197 persons died. When compared to 2024, the total number of road accidents reported were 252. Of them, 162 were fatal accidents in which 177 persons died.
Published – December 29, 2025 09:40 pm IST
