Shah terms it ‘mighty blow to Naxalism’
Raipur/Bhubaneswar, Jan 21: Fourteen Naxals, including a top CPI (Maoists) leader who was carrying a reward of Rs 1 crore, were killed in a joint operation by central and state police forces along the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah Tuesday termed the encounter as “another mighty blow to Naxalism” and asserted the Narendra Modi government’s resolve for a Naxal-free India and the joint efforts of the security forces to eliminate the menace from the country.
Chhattisgarh’s Gariaband district superintendent of police Nikhil Rakhecha said of the deceased, one has been identified as Ramachandra Reddy alias Jairam alias Chalpati, a central committee member of the CPI (Maoist), who was carrying a bounty of Rs 1 crore. He hailed from Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. The identity of the remaining cadres was yet to be ascertained. Inspector General of Police, Raipur Range Amresh Mishra told PTI that 14 Naxalites were killed during the operation and intermittent exchange of firing was still underway in the area and more details are expected on Wednesday.
On Monday, a CoBRA commando was injured, while a jawan belonging to the SOG of Odisha Police sustained injuries on Tuesday, Mishra said.
Shah wrote on 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.” (PTI)