New Delhi:

A Maoist carrying a Rs 1 crore bounty was among 14 killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Gariaband district last night with Union Home Minister Amit Shah calling the operation a “major success”.

Jayaram Reddy, a senior Maoist leader also known as Chalapati, was killed in the exchange of fire that took place in a forest along the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border.

A joint team of security personnel from the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), CoBRA from Chhattisgarh and Special Operation Group (SOG) from Odisha were involved in the operation.

The operation was launched based on intelligence about the presence of Maoists in the Kularighat reserve forest of Chhattisgarh, just five kilometres from the border of Odisha’s Nuapada district.

A large cache of firearms, ammunition and IEDs, including a self-loading rifle, were recovered from the encounter site, an official said. A massive search operation is underway in the area.

Amit Shah On Maoist Encounter

Amit Shah, who has vowed to eradicate Maoists by March 2026, called the encounter “another mighty blow to Naxalism”.

“Our security forces achieved major success towards building a Naxal-free Bharat. The CRPF, SoG Odisha, and Chhattisgarh Police neutralised 14 Naxalites in a joint operation along the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border,” he posted on X.

Another mighty blow to Naxalism. Our security forces achieved major success towards building a Naxal-free Bharat. The CRPF, SoG Odisha, and Chhattisgarh Police neutralised 14 Naxalites in a joint operation along the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border. With our resolve for a Naxal-free…

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) January 21, 2025

“With our resolve for a Naxal-free India and the joint efforts of our security forces, Naxalism is breathing its last today,” Mr Shah added.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai also praised the security forces and said that under the double-engine government (the BJP government at the Centre and the state), Chhattisgarh will get rid of the Maoists by March 2026.

The security forces have been “continuously achieving success” and “moving rapidly” towards fulfilling the target, he said.

“This success of the soldiers is commendable. I salute their bravery,” Mr Sai posted on X.

About 40 Maoists have so far been killed in separate encounters in Chhattisgarh this year.

Chalapati: The Senior Maoist Killed In Encounter

Chalapati, who was a resident of Andhra Pradesh’s Chittoor, was a senior member of the central committee of the Maoists, which is the highest decision-making body within the group. He was known for his activities in the dense forests of Abujhmad in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar.

Aged around 60, he relocated his base a few months ago due to the increasing frequency of encounters in the Abujhmad area and shifted near the Odisha border, seeking a safer operational zone, sources said.

Chalapati played a key role in strategizing and leading operations for the Maoists.

His security detail consisted of 8 to 10 personal guards.

Chalapati, who carried a reward of Rs 1 crore for information leading to his capture, was considered a high-value target by security forces.

Over 200 Maoists Killed In 2024

More than 200 Maoists were killed by security forces in Chhattisgarh in 2024. Among 219 Maoists killed last year, 217 were from the Bastar region, which comprises Bastar, Dantewada, Kanker, Bijapur, Narayanpur, Kondagaon and Sukma districts.

Over 800 Maoists were also arrested, while about 802 laid down their arms.

About 18 security personnel lost their lives in the fight against Maoists in 2024, while the number of civilians killed in Maoist violence stood at 65.

New Delhi:

Ten Maoists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Konta.

Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan confirmed that the encounter broke out in the early hours of Friday in the Bhejji area.

Security forces recovered several weapons from the sport, including three automatic firearms.

District Reserve Guard (DRG) initiated this operation following intelligence that Naxalites were entering Chhattisgarh via Odisha.

While P Sundarraj, Inspector General of Bastar, has confirmed the occurrence of the encounter. However, details regarding the number of casualties and types of weapons seized are still pending.

An intermittent exchange of fire is still underway, as per news agency PTI.

Last month, thirty-one Maoists were shot dead by security forces in a forest along the Narayanpur-Dantewada border in Chhattisgarh. Several assault rifles, including AK series and other weapons were recovered.

The encounter marks one of the biggest successes for the security forces in their fight against the Maoist insurgency in Chhattisgarh.

Narayanpur, Chhattisgarh:

At least eight Maoists have been killed in an encounter that broke out between Maoists and security forces in the forests of Abujhmad in the Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district, officials said on Saturday.

According to officials, the encounter between Maoists and security forces has been underway for the past two days.

“One jawan lost his life in the line of duty, whereas two have sustained injuries,” they said.

According to officials, Narayanpur-Kondagaon-Kanker-Dantewada District Reserve Guards (DRG), Special Task Forces (STF), and Indo-Tibetan Border Police’s (ITBP) 53rd Battalion are involved in the operation.

Officials believe that a large number of other Maoists have also been injured in the encounter. The security forces have launched a search operation in the area.

The encounter broke out in Kutul, Farashbeda and Kodtameda areas of the Abujhmad forests.

Earlier, on June 8, six Maoists were killed in an encounter that broke out with security forces at Chhattisgarh’s Bastar on Friday.

The encounter broke out between the police forces and the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PGLA) Military Company No. 6.

Among the dead Maoists, one People’s Party Committee Member, one Deputy Commander, two party members of Company No. 6, and an Area Committee Member of Bayanar Area were included.

The joint inter-district anti-Naxal operation was conducted in the Amdai Area Committee area of East Bastar Division.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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