In a major breakthrough against Naxalism, 14 Maoists, including a top leader of the CPI (Maoist) carrying a reward of ₹1 crore, were killed in a joint operation by central and state police forces along the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border on Tuesday.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah described the encounter as “another mighty blow to Naxalism” and reaffirmed the Narendra Modi government’s commitment to a Naxal-free India. Shah commended the joint efforts of the security forces in their mission to eradicate the menace from the country.

Among those killed was Ramachandra Reddy, alias Jairam, a central committee member of the CPI (Maoist). According to Chhattisgarh’s Gariaband district superintendent of police, Nikhil Rakhecha, Reddy was a key figure within the Maoist organization and hailed from Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh.

The operation, which marked a significant success in the ongoing battle against left-wing extremism, highlights the coordinated efforts between central and state forces. The elimination of such high-ranking Maoist leaders is expected to deal a major blow to the insurgent group’s operational capabilities in the region.

This encounter comes as part of intensified anti-Naxal measures undertaken by the government, with increased focus on intelligence-driven operations to neutralize key leaders and dismantle their networks.