12 Naxalites Identified in Chhattisgarh Encounter, Bounties Totaling Rs 3.13 Crore

: Twelve of the 16 Naxalites killed in a recent encounter in Chhattisgarh’s Gariaband district have been identified as key members of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), with a cumulative bounty of Rs 3.13 crore on their heads. The operation also saw the death of a central committee member, a significant figure in the outlawed movement.

The encounter took place in a forest area under the Mainpur police station limits along the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border. The three-day operation involved security forces from the Gariaband district police unit (E-30), the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), its elite unit CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action), and the Odisha police’s Special Operations Group (SOG). The operation concluded on Wednesday.

Key Figures:
Chalpathi, alias Jairam, a central committee member of the Maoists, was one of the prominent figures killed in the operation. He had a collective bounty of Rs 90 lakh across Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh. This marks the first time a member of the central committee, the main governing body of the proscribed group, has been eliminated in Chhattisgarh.

Other Identified Cadres:
Other key Maoists killed include:

Jairam alias Guddu (50), member of the Odisha state committee and secretary of the Dhamtari-Gariaband-Nuapada (DGN) division, and Satyam Gavde (43), chief of the DGN division. Both had a reward of Rs 65 lakh each across three states.
Alok alias Munna, a divisional committee member, and Mannu, a member of the military company in Maad area, carried bounties of Rs 18 lakh and Rs 14 lakh, respectively.
Shankar, Kalmu Deve alias Kalla, Manju, and Rinki, Maoist area committee members, had a collective reward of Rs 13 lakh each.
Additionally, three other deceased cadres have been identified as Sukhram, a party member, and Rame Oyam (28) and Jaini (24), both members of the Mainpur Local Guerrilla Squad (LGS). Each of them carried a bounty of Rs 3 lakh.

Ongoing Efforts:
Efforts are underway to identify four other deceased cadres. The operation led to the recovery of at least 17 automatic firearms, including an AK-47 rifle and one Self-Loading Rifle (SLR). More than two dozen improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted by the Naxalites were neutralized by the security forces.

Annual Toll:
This year alone, at least 42 Naxalites have been killed in separate encounters across Chhattisgarh. In 2024, a total of 219 Naxalites were neutralized by security forces in the state.

Quote Section:
Amresh Mishra, IG Raipur Range: “The encounter dealt a significant blow to the Naxal movement in Chhattisgarh, as several high-value targets were eliminated. We continue our efforts to safeguard the region from Naxal activities.”
Security Official: “The operation was a joint effort by multiple security agencies, and we are continuing to neutralize any remaining threats in the area.”