Chhattisgarh-Odisha joint operation: At least 14 Naxalites killed by security forces in Gariaband

Chhattisgarh  News: At least 14 Maoists were killed in a significant encounter with Chhattisgarh Police in the Gariaband district, located on the border with Odisha, on Tuesday. According to reports, this count includes two female Maoists who were neutralized during an operation on Monday.

Ongoing Operations Lead to High Casualties

Police officials confirmed that a Maoist, who had a bounty of ₹1 crore, was among those killed in the ongoing encounter. The situation remains fluid, with reports suggesting that the number of Maoist casualties could rise. The clash reignited after the initial operation, which resulted in the deaths of two women Maoists and injuries to one CoBRA jawan. Fresh gunfire erupted late Monday night and early Tuesday morning in a forest area under the Mainpur police station jurisdiction, leading to the additional deaths of 12 more Maoists.

Joint Forces Engage in Tactical Operations

The operation involved a coordinated effort from multiple security units, including the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), CoBRA from Chhattisgarh, and the Special Operation Group (SOG) from Odisha.

This joint team was deployed following intelligence reports regarding Maoist presence in the Kularighat reserve forest, situated just 5 km from Odisha's Nuapada district border.During this extensive operation, authorities recovered a substantial cache of weapons, ammunition, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), including a self-loading rifle.

Government's Commitment to Combat Naxalism

This crackdown on Maoists is part of the central government's commitment to eradicate Naxalism by 2026—a pledge reiterated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah following a tragic incident on January 6, where eight DRG jawans and one driver lost their lives due to an IED explosion orchestrated by Naxals in Bijapur. The attack was noted as one of the most significant assaults on security personnel by Naxalites in recent year.

The blast occurred on Bedre-Kutru Road in Bijapur district while the DRG jawans were returning from a joint operation involving Dantewada, Narayanpur, and Bijapur districts. On April 26, 2023, another deadly incident saw ten police personnel and a civilian driver killed when Naxals detonated their vehicle as part of a convoy carrying security forces.

As operations continue against Maoist insurgents, the Chhattisgarh Police remain determined to uphold safety and security in the region while addressing the ongoing threat posed by these groups.