Raipur, Jan 21: Following the recovery of 14 Naxal bodies who were killed during an encounter with the security forces in Chhattisgarh's Gariaband district near the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border, Inspector General of Raipur Zone Amresh Mishra stated that two additional bodies of Naxals were recovered, taking the tally to 16.

According to a statement by IG Mishra, the security forces also recovered a large quantity of weapons and ammunition, including AK-47s, SLRs, INSAS and other automatic weapons. Meanwhile, the search operation is ongoing.

Earlier, the Gariaband Superintendent of Police, Nikhil Rakhecha, in a statement, stated that more than 14 Naxals were killed during a joint anti-Naxal operation by the Gariaband Operation Group E30, Cobra 207, CRPF 65 and 211 Battalions, and SOG Nuapada.

According to the SP, the security forces were also able to kill a member of the Naxalite Central Committee, Jairam alias Chalpati, who had a reward of one crore on his head.

The operation, which was started on Sunday, also saw senior cadres of Maoists dead and a large quantity of weapons, including automatic weapons like SLR rifles, recovered.

Following this development, Union Home Minister Amit Shah lauded the efforts of the security forces, stating that it was a "mighty blow" to Naxalism.

"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," the Union Home Minister stated.

Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma also said that the elimination of Jairam was a success for the security forces and many automatic weapons had been seized in the encounter.

"14 Naxalites have been killed in 2 days. The special thing is that Odisha cadre CC member Jairam has been killed in Chhattisgarh and the killing of a CC member is the first such incident in the history of Naxal operations to date. Overall, there must have been a reward of more than one crore rupees on his head. So the police have got a big success. Many automatic weapons have also been recovered in this... By March 2026, Naxalism will be completely eradicated not only from Chhattisgarh but from the whole of India," he said.

NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule also spoke on this matter, stating that she strongly backed the government's efforts on eliminating the naxals, as it was a part of a national security issue.

"I think any such operations against terrorism, we all stand united and strongly behind the government because when it comes to national issues and national security issues, clearly we all are with the government," she said.

(ANI)

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