In a battle with security forces in the Gariaband area of Chhattisgarh on Tuesday, 20 people were murdered, including a prominent Maoist leader who was carrying a Rs 1 crore bounty. The operation was conducted in the Kularighat reserve forest close to the Odisha border, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah called it a “major success.”
Jayaram Reddy, well known as Chalapati, was a prominent member of the Maoists’ central committee, which served as the organization’s highest decision-making body. Chalapati, who was about 60 years old and was from the Chittoor region of Andhra Pradesh, was well-known for his operating prowess in the thick forests of Abujhmad in Bastar.
Due to heightened security measures in Bastar, he recently moved his camp close to the Odisha border. Two to ten guards made up his personal security detail.
Odisha’s Special Operation Group (SOG), the District Reserve Guard (DRG), the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and the CoBRA unit carried out the coordinated operation. Based on information that Maoists were present in the Kularighat forest, five kilometers from the Nuapada district of Odisha, the security forces began the operation.
Authorities said that a sizable stockpile of weapons, ammo, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), including a self-loading rifle, had been found at the location. To find any surviving militants or concealed supplies, a search and rescue operation is underway in the region.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah referred to the operation as “another mighty blow to Naxalism” and reiterated his pledge to eradicate Maoists by March 2026.
In a post on X, he stated, “Our security forces achieved major success towards building a Naxal-free Bharat. With our resolve and the joint efforts of our security forces, Naxalism is breathing its last today”.
Vishnu Deo Sai, the chief minister of Chhattisgarh, also praised the operation. He declared, “Under the double-engine government, Chhattisgarh will get rid of Maoists by March 2026,” he said. “This success of the soldiers is commendable. I salute their bravery”.
Chalapati was a highly sought-after target, and the Maoist leadership was severely damaged by his passing. He actively participated in expanding Maoist activity along the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border and played a crucial role in operational planning.
About 40 Maoists have been slain in clashes in Chhattisgarh this year. More than 200 Maoists were slain in 2024, 217 of whom were in the Bastar region alone. More than 800 rebels were also taken into custody by security forces, while about 802 Maoists turned themselves in.
Even with the victories, there has been a cost to the conflict. In 2024, Maoist-related violence claimed the lives of 18 security personnel and injured 65 civilians. Security personnel are still operating in the impacted areas as the government remains committed to ending the Maoist insurgency.
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