At least fourteen Maoists have been killed along the Chhattisgarh-Odisha borderin an anti-Maoist operation conducted in Gariaband district. The police said on Tuesday (January 21, 2025). The police had on Monday (January 20, 2025) said the number of fatalities in the operation was two but updated the figures based on the bodies recovered after the operation.
Those killed include Jayaram alias Chalpati, a senior member of the central committee. The highest decision-making body of the Maoists, with a reward of Rs 1 crore. Gariaband Superintendent of Police Nikhil Rakhecha told.
Maoists insurgents have been active in the border areas of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and several other states, engaging in violent activities and aiming to challenge the government’s control over certain rural region. Security operations in the area are frequent, but the difficult terrain and the strategic use of guerrilla tactics by the Maoists make them challenging to combat.
Odisha-Chhattisgarh Encounter Details:
- The encounter took place after intelligence inputs suggested the presence of a significant Maoists group in the area. Security forces launched a combing operation early in the morning to flush out militants hiding in the forests.
- As the forces advanced, they came into direct confrontation with a group of armed Maoists. A fierce exchange of gunfire ensued, leading to the killing of at least 14 Maoists, according to initial reports.
- The security forces reportedly faced heavy resistance, but the forces managed to maintain their position, and the Maoists were overwhelmed. No causalities have been reported on the side of the security forces.
Maoists Causalities:
- According to police sources, 14 Maoists were confirmed dead at the site of the encounter. A significant number of weapons, including rifles and ammunition, were recovered from the dead Maoists.
- Some reports suggest that Maoists in the region have faced increasing pressure from security forces in recent years, which may have forced them to retreat deeper into the forested areas.
