diff --git a/backend/services/deploy-mining.sh b/backend/services/deploy-mining.sh
index 48b4b2a7..f4792098 100755
--- a/backend/services/deploy-mining.sh
+++ b/backend/services/deploy-mining.sh
@@ -983,40 +983,28 @@ full_reset() {
         local offset_key="[\"$connector\",{\"server\":\"$topic_prefix\"}]"
         log_info "Sending tombstone for: $connector (key: $offset_key)"
 
-        # Try using kafkacat/kcat to send tombstone (NULL message)
-        # -Z flag enables NULL message delivery
-        # -K| sets key separator to |
+        # Send tombstone (NULL value) using kafka-console-producer
+        # Use null.marker to mark __NULL__ as NULL value
+        # Format: key\t__NULL__ with parse.key=true and null.marker=__NULL__
         local tombstone_sent=false
 
-        # Try Debezium Connect container first (has kafkacat)
-        local connect_container="rwa-debezium-connect"
-        if docker ps --format '{{.Names}}' 2>/dev/null | grep -q "^${connect_container}$"; then
-            if docker exec "$connect_container" which kafkacat &>/dev/null; then
-                if echo "${offset_key}|" | docker exec -i "$connect_container" kafkacat -P -Z -b kafka:9092 -t "$offset_topic" -K \| 2>/dev/null; then
-                    log_success "Sent tombstone via kafkacat (debezium-connect) for: $connector"
-                    tombstone_sent=true
-                fi
-            fi
-        fi
-
-        # Try Kafka container if Debezium Connect didn't work
-        if [ "$tombstone_sent" = false ]; then
-            if docker exec "$KAFKA_CONTAINER" which kafkacat &>/dev/null; then
-                if echo "${offset_key}|" | docker exec -i "$KAFKA_CONTAINER" kafkacat -P -Z -b localhost:9092 -t "$offset_topic" -K \| 2>/dev/null; then
-                    log_success "Sent tombstone via kafkacat (kafka) for: $connector"
-                    tombstone_sent=true
-                fi
-            elif docker exec "$KAFKA_CONTAINER" which kcat &>/dev/null; then
-                if echo "${offset_key}|" | docker exec -i "$KAFKA_CONTAINER" kcat -P -Z -b localhost:9092 -t "$offset_topic" -K \| 2>/dev/null; then
-                    log_success "Sent tombstone via kcat for: $connector"
-                    tombstone_sent=true
-                fi
-            fi
+        # Use kafka-console-producer which is available in Kafka container
+        # --property parse.key=true: Enable key parsing
+        # --property key.separator=<TAB>: Use literal tab as key-value separator
+        # --property null.marker=__NULL__: Treat __NULL__ as null value (tombstone)
+        # Note: Must use printf to properly pass tab character through SSH/docker
+        if printf '%s\t%s\n' "$offset_key" "__NULL__" | docker exec -i "$KAFKA_CONTAINER" kafka-console-producer \
+            --bootstrap-server localhost:9092 \
+            --topic "$offset_topic" \
+            --property parse.key=true \
+            --property "key.separator=	" \
+            --property "null.marker=__NULL__" 2>/dev/null; then
+            log_success "Sent tombstone via kafka-console-producer for: $connector"
+            tombstone_sent=true
         fi
 
         if [ "$tombstone_sent" = false ]; then
             log_warn "Could not send tombstone for $connector"
-            log_warn "Neither kafkacat nor kcat available, offset may persist"
         fi
     done