: Twelve of the 16 Naxalites killed in a recent encounter in Chhattisgarh’s Gariaband district have been identified as key members of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), with a cumulative bounty of Rs 3.13 crore on their heads. The operation also saw the death of a central committee member, a significant figure in the outlawed movement.
The encounter took place in a forest area under the Mainpur police station limits along the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border. The three-day operation involved security forces from the Gariaband district police unit (E-30), the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), its elite unit CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action), and the Odisha police’s Special Operations Group (SOG). The operation concluded on Wednesday.
Key Figures:
Chalpathi, alias Jairam, a central committee member of the Maoists, was one of the prominent figures killed in the operation. He had a collective bounty of Rs 90 lakh across Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh. This marks the first time a member of the central committee, the main governing body of the proscribed group, has been eliminated in Chhattisgarh.
Other Identified Cadres:
Other key Maoists killed include:
- Jairam alias Guddu (50), member of the Odisha state committee and secretary of the Dhamtari-Gariaband-Nuapada (DGN) division, and Satyam Gavde (43), chief of the DGN division. Both had a reward of Rs 65 lakh each across three states.
- Alok alias Munna, a divisional committee member, and Mannu, a member of the military company in Maad area, carried bounties of Rs 18 lakh and Rs 14 lakh, respectively.
- Shankar, Kalmu Deve alias Kalla, Manju, and Rinki, Maoist area committee members, had a collective reward of Rs 13 lakh each.
Additionally, three other deceased cadres have been identified as Sukhram, a party member, and Rame Oyam (28) and Jaini (24), both members of the Mainpur Local Guerrilla Squad (LGS). Each of them carried a bounty of Rs 3 lakh.
Ongoing Efforts:
Efforts are underway to identify four other deceased cadres. The operation led to the recovery of at least 17 automatic firearms, including an AK-47 rifle and one Self-Loading Rifle (SLR). More than two dozen improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted by the Naxalites were neutralized by the security forces.
Annual Toll:
This year alone, at least 42 Naxalites have been killed in separate encounters across Chhattisgarh. In 2024, a total of 219 Naxalites were neutralized by security forces in the state.
Quote Section:
- Amresh Mishra, IG Raipur Range: “The encounter dealt a significant blow to the Naxal movement in Chhattisgarh, as several high-value targets were eliminated. We continue our efforts to safeguard the region from Naxal activities.”
- Security Official: “The operation was a joint effort by multiple security agencies, and we are continuing to neutralize any remaining threats in the area.”
