GUWAHATI: A Maoist leader with a bounty of ₹1 crore on his head was among 14 insurgents killed in a significant encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Gariaband district, as per reports on Tuesday.
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Jayram alias Chalapathi, a key member of the Maoists' Central Committee, was reportedly killed during an exchange of fire that occurred late Monday night and continued into the early hours of Tuesday in the dense forests along the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border.
The joint operation reportedly involved personnel from the District Reserve Guard (DRG), the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the CoBRA unit, and Odisha's Special Operation Group (SOG). Acting on intelligence about Maoist activity in the Kularighat reserve forest near the Odisha border, security forces launched the operation on the night of January 19.
On Monday, two women Maoists were killed, and one CoBRA jawan sustained injuries during an earlier phase of the same operation, as per reports. The encounter also reportedly led to the recovery of a large cache of firearms, ammunition, and IEDs, including a self-loading rifle.
In the subsequent exchange of fire late Monday night and early Tuesday morning, 12 more Maoists were reportedly neutralised. Authorities believe the number of casualties could rise further as combing operations continue in the area.
The neutralisation of Jayram, a high-ranking Maoist leader, marks a significant blow to the insurgency in the region. Officials stated that this success was made possible by coordinated efforts between Chhattisgarh and Odisha forces.
