In a significant development, a senior Maoist leader, Jayaram Reddy, also known as Chalapati, carrying a ₹1 crore bounty, was killed in a fierce encounter with security forces in the Gariaband district of Chhattisgarh. The clash, which occurred in a forested area along the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border, led to the deaths of at least 20 Maoists.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah hailed the operation as a “major success” in the ongoing efforts to curb Naxalism, stating that it was “another mighty blow to Naxalism.” In his statement, Shah emphasized the joint efforts of security forces in neutralizing 14 Maoists, including Chalapati, in the operation. The security personnel involved in the operation included the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), CoBRA from Chhattisgarh, and Special Operations Group (SOG) from Odisha.
The operation was based on intelligence gathered about Maoist activity in the Kularighat reserve forest in Chhattisgarh, located just five kilometers from Odisha’s Nuapada district. In addition to the Maoist casualties, a significant cache of firearms, ammunition, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), including a self-loading rifle, was recovered from the encounter site. Authorities have launched a massive search operation in the area.
Amit Shah also reiterated his commitment to eliminating Maoism in India, vowing to create a Naxal-free Bharat by March 2026. The Union Home Minister expressed confidence that the combined efforts of the security forces and the double-engine government—referring to the BJP governments at both the Centre and in Chhattisgarh—would ensure the eradication of Maoism from the state.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai also praised the security forces for their bravery and success in combating Maoist insurgency, declaring that Chhattisgarh is on track to be free of Maoists by the target date. “This success of the soldiers is commendable. I salute their bravery,” said Sai in his social media post.
Chalapati, aged around 60, was a senior member of the Maoist central committee, the highest decision-making body within the group. He had been operating in the dense forests of Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region but relocated his base to the Odisha border in recent months due to the increasing frequency of encounters in the area. Chalapati had long been considered a high-value target by security forces, and his capture was worth a reward of ₹1 crore.
This encounter is part of a series of successful operations targeting Maoist leaders and cadres in Chhattisgarh. So far in 2024, more than 200 Maoists have been killed, with the majority of the casualties occurring in the Bastar region, which includes districts such as Bastar, Dantewada, Kanker, Bijapur, Narayanpur, Kondagaon, and Sukma. In addition, over 800 Maoists have been arrested, while more than 800 have surrendered, signaling a major shift in the ongoing counter-insurgency operations.
As the search operation continues, security forces remain resolute in their mission to eradicate Naxalism, with the state’s efforts gaining momentum in the battle to bring lasting peace to the region.
Sources By Agencies
