Bhubaneswar, Jan 22: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has announced an increase in the monthly ‘risk allowance' of special operations group (SOG) jawans from Rs 8,000 to Rs 25,000.

The hike of allowance came a day after 14 Maoists were gunned down in a joint operation conducted by Odisha SOGs, Chhattisgarh, and CRPF forces in Odisha-Chhattisgarh border area.

Taking to X, Odisha CMO said, "Today, 14 Maoists were killed in a joint operation by security forces in Kularighat area of Chhattisgarh bordering Nuapada district. The SOG jawans of Odisha Police played a key role in this operation, for which Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi has congratulated all the jawans".

"On this occasion, the state government has decided to increase the special allowance (risk allowance) given to the jawans from Rs 8,000 to Rs 25,000. The Chief Minister has said that the anti-Naxal operation in Odisha will be further intensified in the coming days", the CMO added.

Odisha police reported that approximately 75 SOG personnel participated in the extensive joint operation, which commenced at Kularighat reserve forest in Chhattisgarh's Gariaband in Monday's early hours. One SOG jawan sustained injuries in Tuesday's gunfight.

Notably, Jayram Reddy, a senior Maoist leader also known as Chalapati, was killed in the exchange of fire that took place in a forest along the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border. Reddy was carrying a bounty of Rs one crore on his head.

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