In a significant operation in Chhattisgarh’s Gariaband district Tuesday, a Maoist leader carrying a Rs 1 crore bounty was among 20 Maoists killed in a fierce encounter with security forces. Union Home Minister Amit Shah hailed the operation as a “major success,” further calling it a “mighty blow to Naxalism.” Jayaram Reddy, known as Chalapati, a senior member of the Maoist central committee, was killed in the gunfight, which took place in the dense forest area near the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border. The operation involved a joint team of security personnel, including the District Reserve Guard (DRG), the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), CoBRA from Chhattisgarh, and the Special Operation Group (SOG) from Odisha.
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
The operation was initiated based on intelligence reports regarding Maoist presence in the Kularighat reserve forest, located only five kilometers from Odisha’s Nuapada district. A large cache of weapons, ammunition, and IEDs, including a self-loading rifle, were recovered from the encounter site, and a massive search operation continues in the region.
Amit Shah, who has set a target to eliminate Maoism by March 2026, stated, “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 added, “With our resolve for a Naxal-free India and the joint efforts of our security forces, Naxalism is breathing its last today.”
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai also praised the security forces, noting that under the “double-engine government” (the BJP government at the Centre and the state), the state is on track to rid itself of Maoists by March 2026. He expressed his admiration for the bravery of the forces, writing on X, “This success of the soldiers is commendable. I salute their bravery.”