Senior Maoist Leader with ₹1 Crore Bounty Among 14 Killed in Chhattisgarh Operation
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Synopsis
A prominent Maoist leader, Jayaram Reddy, alias Chalapati, was among 14 Maoists killed in a clash with security forces in Chhattisgarh. Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised the operation as a major success against Naxalism, boosting efforts to eliminate Maoist activity in the region by March 2026.
Key Takeaways
- Jayaram Reddy killed in Chhattisgarh.
- Operation described as a major success.
- Over 40 Maoists killed this year.
- Focus on eradicating Naxalism by March 2026.
- Significant cache of arms recovered.
New Delhi, Jan 21 (NationPress) A prominent Maoist leader, Jayaram Reddy, known by the alias Chalapati, who had a bounty of ₹1 crore, was among 14 Maoists eliminated during a violent confrontation with security forces in the Gariaband district of Chhattisgarh.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah commended this operation as a significant success, describing it as another crucial setback to Naxalism.
The clash occurred on Monday night in a wooded area near the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border, specifically in the Kularighat reserve forest, just five kilometers from the Nuapada district of Odisha.
This operation was executed by a collaborative team of security forces, which included the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), CoBRA units from Chhattisgarh, and the Special Operations Group (SOG) from Odisha.
The encounter was initiated based on Intelligence reports regarding the presence of Maoists, resulting in the confiscation of a substantial cache of firearms, ammunition, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and a self-loading rifle. A comprehensive search operation is currently in progress in the vicinity.
Minister Shah, who has pledged to eliminate Maoism by March 2026, praised the achievements of the security forces, asserting, "Our security forces have made considerable progress towards establishing a Naxal-free Bharat."
He further stated, "With our determination for a Naxal-free India and the joint efforts of our security forces, Naxalism is nearing its end today."
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai also praised the efforts of the security forces, highlighting that under the BJP-led government at both the Centre and state levels, the mission to cleanse Chhattisgarh of Maoists is advancing rapidly towards the March 2026 objective.
This operation is part of ongoing initiatives aimed at dismantling Maoist activity in Chhattisgarh, with over 40 Maoists having been killed in various encounters this year alone.
Chalapati, a crucial figure in Maoist operations within the dense forests of Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region, had recently moved closer to the Odisha border to evade the increasing number of confrontations in his former stronghold.
In 2024, security forces have neutralized more than 200 Maoists in Chhattisgarh, including 217 from the Bastar region. The year also witnessed the capture of over 800 Maoists and the surrender of approximately 802 others. However, the persistent conflict has led to the loss of 18 security personnel and 65 civilians.
