Chhattisgarh: 14 Naxals Killed, Including One with ₹1 Crore Reward, in Three-Day Encounter

In a major success for security forces, 14 Naxals, including one of the most wanted operatives with a ₹1 crore reward on his head, were killed in a three-day encounter in the forests of Garibandh district, Chhattisgarh.
The operation, led by IG Amresh Mishra, took place along the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border and resulted in the deaths of 20 Maoists. The encounter began on Sunday and continued through Tuesday, with intense firefights between security personnel and the Naxals.
The slain operatives include Jayaram, alias Chalpati, who was one of the most wanted Naxal leaders with a bounty of ₹1 crore. During the operation, a large cache of Naxal weapons, explosives, and other materials were recovered from the encounter site.
IG Amresh Mishra, who personally monitored the operation, visited the Garibandh forest area to oversee the progress and gather updates from the field. The clash started when a group of Naxals ambushed the security forces near the Kulhadi Ghat-Bhaludiggi hills, about 10 km inside the Odisha border, on the morning of January 19.
The Naxals opened fire on the forces, but the security personnel retaliated, forcing the attackers to retreat into the dense forest. The operation lasted for over 36 hours.
Following the encounter, security forces conducted a detailed search in the area, where they recovered the bodies of 14 Naxals, both men and women, as well as a significant amount of weapons, including INSAS rifles, SLRs, automatic weapons, and other Naxal-related materials.
The bodies of the deceased and the recovered items will be sent for identification and further legal proceedings. The ongoing Naxal eradication campaign in the Garibandh district has been targeting key Maoist strongholds in the region. As part of this operation, forces from the Garibandh district, along with COBRA-207, CRPF-65, 211 battalions, and local SOG teams from Nuaapada (Odisha), were deployed.
During the operation, two security personnel were injured. COBRA-207 constable Neeraj Kumar Verma was wounded and was airlifted to a hospital in Raipur for treatment. Similarly, SOG Nuaapada constable Dharmendra Bhoi also sustained injuries and is receiving medical care. Both soldiers are reportedly in stable condition.
As the search operation continues, the death toll of the Naxals may rise, and more weapons and materials are expected to be found. This operation marks a significant blow to the Naxal movement in the region.