Security forces kill 12 Naxalites in major operation along Odisha-Chhattisgarh border, death toll likely to increase

In a massive anti-Naxal operation in Chattisgarh, 12 Naxalites were killed by security forces in forest areas of Chhattisgarh’s Gariaband district during the early hours of Tuesday. A security personnel got injured in the exchange of fire, a senior police official said.

According to Chhattisgarh police, at least 12 Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Gariaband district. Security forces gunned down two women Naxalites on Monday and a CoBRA jawan got injured in the encounter, police added.

Based on an intelligence tip-off, security forces launched search operation in the Kularighat reserve forest of Chhattisgarh, just 5km from the border of Odisha's Nuapada district. Exchange of fire took place between security forces and Naxals late on Monday night and early Tuesday morning in a forest under the Mainpur police station area, police said, adding 12 Naxalites got killed in the operation.

According to police, the death toll may increase. In the operation on Monday, security forces recovered a large cache of firearms, ammunition and IEDs, including a self-loading rifle from the encounter site. 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 the anti-Naxal operation, PTI reported.

Security forces have intensified anti-Naxal operations in the region after the death of eight security personnel in a recent Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh. Naxalites blew up a vehicle of security forces while they were returning from a search operation. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had vowed Naxalism will be wiped out of Chhattisgarh by 2026.