Jayaram Reddy, famously known as Chalapati, was a senior Maoist leader and a key figure in the extremist network.
Originally from Madanapalle in Andhra Pradesh, Chalapati, around 60-year-old, had studied only up to Class 10 but rose to prominence within the Maoist Central Committee, the organisation's top decision-making body.
Chalapati's strategic importance made him one of the most wanted Maoists in the country, with a Rs 1 crore bounty on his head.
He was well-acquainted with the forests of Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region and was always surrounded by 8-10 armed guards, reflecting his high rank within the Maoist hierarchy.
Known for his tactical skills and leadership, he played a critical role in Maoist operations and carried advanced weapons like AK-47s.
Recently, Chalapati had relocated to the Gariaband-Odisha border due to increased security operations in Abujhmad. However, he and 19 of his associates were killed in a major encounter in Chhattisgarh’s Kularighat reserve forest, about 5 km from the Odisha border.
Also Read: Gunfight erupts between security forces and Maoists
The operation was carried out by a joint team of Chhattisgarh’s District Reserve Guard, CRPF, CoBRA commandos, and Odisha’s Special Operation Group.
The forces acted on intelligence reports about Maoist movements in the area. Several weapons, ammunition, and bombs were recovered from the site. Union Home Minister Amit Shah hailed the operation as a significant step toward eradicating Maoism in India.
In 2022 alone, security forces neutralised 219 Maoists, with 217 from the Bastar region. Additionally, over 800 extremists surrendered or were arrested as the government continues its efforts to encourage Maoists to abandon violence and rejoin the mainstream.
This encounter marks a significant blow to the Maoist network in Chhattisgarh and reinforces the ongoing campaign to make the region Naxal-free.
Also Read: Security forces eliminate 16 Naxals in Chhattisgarh
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