Nuapada: Director General of Police YB Khurania today informed that security forces have successfully neutralized 14 Maoists in an anti-naxal operation on the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border.
The operation, which took place in Bhaludigi village of Kulaharighat in Gariaband district of Chhattisgarh, resulted in the seizure of a huge cache of arms, ammunition, and Maoist articles.
Khurania informed that efforts are underway to identify the slain Maoists. Among those identified are Chalpatti, a central committee member, and Jayaram alias Guddu, an Odisha State Committee member. Two women Maoists were also killed in an encounter on January 19 while 12 others were gunned down on January 20.
“Our efforts are on to identify the slain Maoists. Among the identified Naxalites, Chalpatti, who was a central committee member, and Jayaram alias Guddu, an Odisha State Committee member. We are trying to identify the other dead rebels,” said DGP Khurania.
The DGP praised the bravery of two jawans, SOG Jawan Dharmendra Bhoi and Cobra Jawan Niraj Kumar, who were injured in the exchange of fire. Khurania visited them in the hospital and reported that they are out of danger and eager to rejoin the operation.
“Two jawans were injured in the exchange of fire. They are SOG Jawan Dharmendra Bhoi and Cobra Jawan Niraj Kumar. I spoke to them at the hospital. They were under treatment and out of danger. They agreed to return to their respective units and participate in the operation. We are proud of them. I must thank them and their families. Their morale was very high,” said the DGP.
The operation is a significant success for the Odisha Police, and Khurania assured that security has been strengthened along the border to prevent Maoist infiltration.
The DGP was accompanied by Police IG Niti Shekhar, Nuapada Superintendent of Police Gundala Reddy Raghavendra, and SSB DIG Akhileshvar Singh during the press conference.