Security forces achieved a major breakthrough in anti-Naxal operations on January 21 when more than two dozen Naxalites were confirmed dead in an operation. One of the top-ranking Maoists, identified as Jayram Reddy, alias Chalapati, who was carrying a reward of Rs 1 crore and was in-charge of the Odisha state committee of CPI (Maoist), was among those eliminated during the operation.

Chalapati had reportedly recently relocated near the Odisha border to avoid the increasing frequency of encounters in his previous base.

Praising the operation, Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah said on social media platform X: “Another mighty blow to Naxalism. Our security forces achieved major success towards building a Naxal-free Bharat. The CRPF, SoG Odisha, and Chhattisgarh Police neutralised 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.”

Two soldiers have also been injured in this encounter between security forces and Naxalites. One of them, Dharmendra Bhoi, is a resident of Chhattisgarh and the other, Damru, is a resident of Odisha. Currently, both of them are being treated in Raipur. According to reports, these Naxalites were preparing to disrupt the Panchayat elections. Many documents of election boycott have been recovered from them.

In January itself, 45 Naxalites have been killed in Chhattisgarh. Major operations which have dented Naxal operations include the killing of 18 Naxalites in Bijapur on 16 January, five Naxalites in Abujhmarh on 5 January, three Naxalites in Gariyaband on 3 January and five Naxalites in Bijapur on 2 January.

This successful operation of the security forces is set to provide a massive boost to establishing peace in Naxal-affected areas of the country.