At least 14 Naxals were killed in an encounter with Chhattisgarh police near the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border on Monday. According to the Chhattisgarh Police, one of the Naxal members, who had a reward of 1 crore rupees on his head, was among those killed.
The police have stated that the encounter is still ongoing, and more information is expected to be released soon. In response to the incident, Chhattisgarh's Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao praised the efforts of the security forces.
He said, "Union Home Minister Amit Shah has set a target to make the entire country Naxal-free by March 31, 2026. Our security forces are working tirelessly towards this goal, and they are achieving success with every step. I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the forces for their accomplishment in Gariaband. The fight against Naxalism is crucial for the overall development and progress of the state. Only by eliminating this threat can we ensure a safer and more prosperous future for Chhattisgarh and the nation."
On January 17, two Border Security Force (BSF) jawans were injured after Naxals triggered an improvised explosive device (IED) in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district. The attack took place in the morning when a BSF road-opening party was deployed between Camp Garpa and Garpa village. Narayanpur SP Prabhat Kumar confirmed the incident, and authorities will provide more details later in the day.
Also, on January 16, two CRPF jawans were injured when Naxalites planted a pressure IED near Putkel village, which falls under the Basaguda police station in Bijapur district. The blast resulted in injuries to the jawans, and an investigation into the incident is underway.