Raipur: In a massive success, the Police killed 14 Maoists in Kularighat reserve forest in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday. Among those killed included Chalpati, a senior member of the Maoist’s central committee. He had a reward of Rs 1 crore on his head.
The Maoists were killed in a joint operation between Odisha and Chhattisgarh Police. The Maoists were killed just 5 kilometre from the border of Nuapada district of Odisha.
How the encounter took place?
Sharing information related to the joint operation, the police said, “A joint inter-state operation was launched by Odisha and Chhattisgarh police and CRPF personnel in the border areas of Nuapada district of Odisha and Gariabandh district of Chhattisgarh on the night of 19.1.2025.
“Two Maoist cadres (women) were neutralised in the operation on 20.1.2025. A large quantity of firearms, ammunition, and IEDs, including 1 SLR, were recovered by the security forces on 20.1.2025,” it said.
The police further said that it was in continuation to the above 12 more Maoists were killed during the intervening night between January 20 and January 21. “The number of Maoist casualties may increase. Arms and ammunition have been seized in massive amounts,” the police added. It also said that a massive search operation was underway by the police in the area.
Home Minister Amit Shah too hailed the security forces for the development. Taking to X, he wrote, “Another mighty blow to Naxalism. Our security forces achieved major success in building a Naxal-free Bharat. The CRPF, SoG Odisha, and Chhattisgarh Police neutralized 14 Naxalites in a joint operation along the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border. With our resolve for a Naxal-free India and the joint efforts of our security forces, Naxalism is breathing its last today.”
Who was Chalpati, the Maoist leader killed in the encounter?
Chalpati was a resident of Andhra Pradesh’s Chittoor district. He was a member of the Central Committee, considered to be the highest decision-making body in the group. As per officials, he was active in the restive Bastar district of Chhattisgarh. He had earlier had to leave the Abujhmad area due to increasing activities of the security personnel. After leaving the area, he shifted to near the Odisha border.
