Jayaram Reddy, also known as Chalapati, was a frontline leader who played a crucial role in making strategies and leading naxalite operations, officials said.
In a major success to security forces, a top Maoist commander carrying a ₹ 1 crore bounty was among 14 killed in an encounter in Chhattisgarh's Gariaband district on Jan 20 night, officials said.
Jayaram Reddy, also known as Chalapati, was killed in a gunfight with security forces in a forest along the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border.
A joint team of security personnel from the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), CoBRA from Chhattisgarh, and Special Operation Group (SOG) from Odisha were involved in hours-long operations, according to officials.
The operation was launched based on intelligence about the presence of Maoists in the Kularighat reserve forest of Chhattisgarh, just five kilometers from the border of Odisha's Nuapada district.
A large cache of firearms, ammunition, and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) including a self-loading rifle, were recovered from the encounter site, an official said.
A massive search operation is underway in the area, he added.
Meanwhile, vowing to eradicate Maoists by March 2026, Union Home Minister Amit Shah called the operation a "major success".
‘Selfie nailed it finally’
Security forces have been chasing Chalapati for decades but for the most part, they had photos of him which were at best blurry.
In 2016 however, authorities hit a jackpot!
As they were examining the laptop of a dead moist, the security officials found a photo of Chalapati and his wife Aruna. The selfie, apparently taken from a smartphone, was very clear. The images of both, Chalapati and his wife were circulated, both with security personnel and among the public.
This helped streamline the search for the top Naxal and even his wife who carried a bounty of ₹ 5 Lakh on her head.
‘Reddy played a crucial role in leading operations’
Chalapati (60) belonged to Madanapalle in Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, and had studied till Class X. Despite his modest educational background, he had risen to prominence in the Maoist ranks, becoming a cadre of the Central Committee Member (CCM), a top decision-making body within the organization.
The key position made him privy to sensitive operations of the banned outfit, drew a bounty of ₹ 1 crore. The value of the bounty also suggests how important a target he was for the security forces.
Chalapati was familiar with the dense and impenetrable forests of Bastar. His security detail comprising 8-10 personal guards escorting him bears a testament to his importance within the Maoist network.
Armed with advanced weaponry like AK-47s and SLR rifles, Chalapati was a frontline leader who played a crucial role in making strategies and leading operations.
His tactical expertise, leadership skills, and ability to mobilise resources in challenging terrains earned him notoriety as one of the most wanted Maoist leaders in the region.
Chalapati relocated his base a few months ago in view of increasing encounters in Abujhmad, to the Gariaband-Odisha border, which was deemed a safer operational zone.
Another mighty blow to Naxalism: Amit Shah
Amit Shah, who has vowed to eradicate Maoists by March 2026, called the encounter "another mighty blow to Naxalism".
"Our security forces achieved major success towards building a Naxal-free Bharat. The CRPF, SoG Odisha, and Chhattisgarh Police neutralized 14 Naxalites in a joint operation along the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border," he posted on X.
"With our resolve for a Naxal-free India and the joint efforts of our security forces, Naxalism is breathing it is last today," Shah added.
Chief Minister Chhattisgarh Vishnu Deo Sai also praised the security forces and said that under the double-engine government (the BJP government at the Centre and the state), Chhattisgarh will get rid of the Maoists by March 2026.
The security forces have been "continuously achieving success" and "moving rapidly" towards fulfilling the target, he said.
"This success of the soldiers is commendable. I salute their bravery," Sai posted on X.
Over 200 Maoists killed in 2024
More than 200 Maoists were killed by security forces in Chhattisgarh in 2024 and most of the slain were from the Bastar region, which comprises Bastar, Dantewada, Kanker, Bijapur, Narayanpur, Kondagaon and Sukma districts, officials said.
Over 800 Maoists were also arrested, and 802 laid down their arms, they added.
About 18 security personnel lost their lives in the fight against Maoists in 2024, while as 65 civilians were killed killed in Maoist violence, according to officials.
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