New Delhi:
A Maoist carrying a Rs 1 crore bounty was amongst 14 killed in an encounter with safety forces in Chhattisgarh’s Gariaband district final night time with Union Dwelling Minister Amit Shah calling the operation a “main success”.
Jayaram Reddy, a senior Maoist chief also called Chalapati, was killed within the trade of fireside that befell in a forest alongside the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border.
A joint workforce of safety personnel from the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Central Reserve Police Drive (CRPF), CoBRA from Chhattisgarh and Particular Operation Group (SOG) from Odisha had been concerned within the operation.
The operation was launched based mostly on intelligence in regards to the presence of Maoists within the Kularighat reserve forest of Chhattisgarh, simply 5 kilometres from the border of Odisha’s Nuapada district.
A big cache of firearms, ammunition and IEDs, together with a self-loading rifle, had been recovered from the encounter website, an official mentioned. A large search operation is underway within the space.
Amit Shah On Maoist Encounter
Amit Shah, who has vowed to eradicate Maoists by March 2026, known as the encounter “one other mighty blow to Naxalism”.
“Our safety forces achieved main success in the direction of constructing a Naxal-free Bharat. The CRPF, SoG Odisha, and Chhattisgarh Police neutralised 14 Naxalites in a joint operation alongside the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border,” he posted on X.
One other mighty blow to Naxalism. Our safety forces achieved main success in the direction of constructing a Naxal-free Bharat. The CRPF, SoG Odisha, and Chhattisgarh Police neutralised 14 Naxalites in a joint operation alongside 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 safety forces, Naxalism is respiratory its final as we speak,” Mr Shah added.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai additionally praised the safety forces and mentioned that below the double-engine authorities (the BJP authorities on the Centre and the state), Chhattisgarh will do away with the Maoists by March 2026.
The safety forces have been “constantly attaining success” and “shifting quickly” in the direction of fulfilling the goal, he mentioned.
“This success of the troopers is commendable. I salute their bravery,” Mr Sai posted on X.
About 40 Maoists have thus far been killed in separate encounters in Chhattisgarh this 12 months.
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 best decision-making physique throughout the group. He was identified for his actions within the dense forests of Abujhmad in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar.
Aged round 60, he relocated his base a couple of months in the past because of the growing frequency of encounters within the Abujhmad space and shifted close to the Odisha border, searching for a safer operational zone, sources mentioned.
Chalapati performed a key function in strategizing and main operations for the Maoists.
His safety element consisted of 8 to 10 private guards.
Chalapati, who carried a reward of Rs 1 crore for data resulting in his seize, was thought of a high-value goal by safety forces.
Over 200 Maoists Killed In 2024
Greater than 200 Maoists had been killed by safety forces in Chhattisgarh in 2024. Amongst 219 Maoists killed final 12 months, 217 had been from the Bastar area, which includes Bastar, Dantewada, Kanker, Bijapur, Narayanpur, Kondagaon and Sukma districts.
Over 800 Maoists had been additionally arrested, whereas about 802 laid down their arms.
About 18 security personnel lost their lives in the fight against Maoists in 2024, whereas the variety of civilians killed in Maoist violence stood at 65.