How IPS Gundala Reddy Raghavendra Took on Maoists, Cyber Fraud and dismantled Organised Crime Across Odisha

Gundala Reddy Raghavendra, a 2019-batch Odisha cadre officer, has been associated with a series of investigations and policing initiatives across the state. Currently posted as Superintendent of Police, Jharsuguda, the officer first came into focus during his probation in Ganjam, where he investigated a rape case involving a mentally challenged woman that culminated in a conviction.

Nuapada: A Historic Encounter

As SP Nuapada, he inherited a persistent red zone- dense forests, porous Chhattisgarh border, Maoist influence embedded deep in village life. He did not lead with force. He led with intelligence.

On January 18, 2025, Odisha Police received actionable intelligence about the movement of over 25 Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Kularighat reserve forest in Gariaband district, just five kilometres from Nuapada's border. Raghavendra held detailed discussions with his counterpart in Gariaband, coordinated three SOG teams SOG 21, 40 and 44  already camping in Nuapada carrying out area domination, alongside Chhattisgarh's E-30 Force, CRPF and CRPF's elite CoBRA battalion. The operation launched Sunday night, January 19. He personally and continuously monitored the high-voltage action from the district intelligence operation cell. Odisha Police deployed an advanced drone worth ₹1.5 crore with a 15km range  providing real-time aerial coverage of the entire operation zone.

The result was historic. Jayram alias Chalapathi ,a Central Committee Member of CPI (Maoist) carrying a ₹1 crore bounty, who had evaded security forces for decades across Odisha and Chhattisgarh was neutralised. In total, 16 Maoists were killed in the operation. A massive cache of arms and ammunition was recovered IEDs, SLR, INSAS rifle, 303 rifles, eight country-made weapons, magazines, and live rounds.

Beyond the encounter: 27 Maoists neutralised across 2025–26, 78 surrendered before Odisha Police, 42 more in neighbouring states. Five forward operational bases established along the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border. Operation Shuddhi launched in Nuapada, major ganja and contraband seizures, cutting narcotics pipelines that had been sustaining extremist networks. Nuapada moved permanently off the active threat list.

Recognition of DGP's Disc, Union Home Minister's Medal for Special Operations, Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak 2025.

Jharsuguda: Full Spectrum Policing

Jharsuguda is a different kind of challenge industrial, urban, criminally layered. Raghavendra has approached it with the same template: intelligence first, technology second, field teams third, moving fast. A blind dacoity cracked in nine days  CCTV analytics, ANPR, facial recognition, raids across six states, eight arrested. Thirteen persons arrested across two burglary cases in the same week through tower dump data. Arms smuggling racket busted, five country-made 7.65mm pistols, pipeline traced to Bihar. Fake APK and e-challan cyber fraud network busted accused from West Bengal, defrauded amount recovered and returned to victim through court orders. Under Operation Cyber Kavach, Jharsuguda ranked first in the state crypto-layering fraud exceeding ₹14 crore dismantled. Two police encounters in May 2026, the second a pre-emptive strike where an armed gang opened fire and the history-sheeter was shot during the exchange of fire and arrested; four associates tracked into forest and apprehended within hours.

Consistent drug seizures ganja, brown sugar, corex. Mobile recovery melas organised for victims. QR-based Smart Auto Tracking System launched under Operation NETRA , now a reference initiative across Odisha. Flawless security for PM visit in September 2025 and President's visit to Jharsuguda. Additionally, he also ran 21 kilometres at both the Hirakud and Rourkela Half Marathons as a competitor, not a chief guest.