Maoist Carrying 1 Crore Bounty Killed, Amit Shah Calls It Major Success
A significant encounter occurred in Chhattisgarh’s Gariaband district, resulting in the deaths of 14 Maoists, including a key figure carrying a ₹1 crore bounty. This operation took place late Monday night and early Tuesday in a forest area near the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border. The Maoist leader, identified as Jayram alias Chalapathi, was a member of the Maoists’ Central Committee and was killed during an exchange of gunfire with security forces.
The operation was executed by a joint team comprising the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), CoBRA, and the Special Operations Group (SOG) from Odisha. Intelligence reports had indicated a significant presence of Maoists in the Kularighat reserve forest, prompting the operation. Alongside Chalapathi, two women Maoists were also among those killed in this fierce confrontation.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah hailed this encounter as a “major success” in the fight against Naxalism, emphasizing the government’s commitment to eradicating Maoist influence by March 2026. He stated that this operation represented a substantial blow to Naxalism and highlighted the effectiveness of the security forces involved.
In 2024, over 200 Maoists were reported killed by security forces in similar operations, indicating an ongoing and intensified campaign against these groups in Chhattisgarh.
