14 Maoists killed by security forces near Chhattisgarh-Odisha border

New Delhi, Jan 21: At least fourteen Maoists have been killed along the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border in an anti-Maoist operation conducted in the Gariaband district, the police said on Tuesday.

Among those killed was Jayaram alias Chalapati, a senior member of the central committee, the highest decision-making body of the Maoists, with a bounty of ₹1 crore on his head, Gariaband Superintendent of Police Nikhil Rakhecha told The Hindu.

Jayaram Reddy, also known by several aliases – Ramachandra Reddy, Apparao, and Ramu – was a prominent figure in the Maoist ranks. Chalapati was gunned down along with other associates in a Chhattisgarh forest last night, marking one of the most successful operations by security forces to combat Left-Wing Extremism (LWE).

Who was Jayaram Reddy?

Chalapati, about 60 years old, hailed from Madanapalle in Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh. Despite his modest educational background, he ascended to the ranks of the Central Committee Member (CCM), a key decision-making body within the Maoist organisation. His high-ranking position and knowledge of the banned outfit’s operations made him a key target for security forces. Media reported that Chalapati was well-acquainted with the dense and difficult terrain of Bastar, and his security detail of 8-10 personal guards indicated his importance within the Maoist network.

Describing the operation as “another mighty blow” to Left Wing Extremism, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday, lauded the security forces for their achievement. “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,” Shah wrote on X.

A large cache of arms and ammunition was recovered, and the Home Minister suggested that the number of casualties could rise further.

Shah reiterated his earlier statement that Naxalism would be eliminated from the country by March 2026.

The operation was executed in the Mainpur police station area by a team consisting of personnel from the District Reserve Guard (DRG), CRPF, and CoBRA (The Commando Battalion for Resolute Action, an elite unit of the CRPF) from Chhattisgarh, while a Special Operation Group (SOG) from Odisha was also involved. A CRPF CoBRA personnel sustained superficial injuries but is reported to be out of danger.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai commended the security forces for their efforts. “Strengthening the resolve of the successful Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the Honorable Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah to end Maoism in the country and state by March 2026, the security forces are continuously achieving success and moving rapidly towards the target. This success achieved by the soldiers is commendable. I salute their bravery. Under our double-engine government, our Chhattisgarh will definitely be free from Maoism by March 2026,” Sai tweeted.

With this latest operation, at least 40 Maoists have been killed since January 1. The Gariaband encounter is the largest in terms of body count this year.

In a separate encounter in Bijapur on January 16, 12 Maoists were killed. However, the police later noted that the Maoists had issued a press release claiming 18 deaths.

In the first week of January 2025, suspected Maoists killed eight security personnel and a civilian driver in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh, which was a major setback for the troops. The heavy use of explosives and the concealed nature of the IEDs suggest long-term planning by the Maoists. The last such major IED blast occurred in April 2023 in Dantewada.

Since then, security forces have intensified operations and increased searches in areas with a strong Maoist presence. The Abujmarh jungles and adjoining areas of the Bastar region remain one of the last strongholds of the extremist organisation. In 2024, an estimated 296 insurgents were killed in operations, while security forces lost 24 personnel and 80 civilians died.