In a significant victory for Indian security forces, senior Maoist leader Jayaram Reddy, also known by aliases such as Ramachandra Reddy, Apparao, Ramu, and most prominently Chalapati, was killed in an encounter along with 19 associates in the dense forests of Chhattisgarh Monday night. This operation marks a major milestone in the efforts to eliminate Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) in the region.
Who Was Jayaram Reddy?
Chalapati, approximately 60 years old, hailed from Madanapalle in Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh. Despite having only studied up to Class 10, he ascended the ranks of the Maoist organization to become a member of its Central Committee (CCM), a high-level decision-making body. His significant role within the banned outfit earned him a bounty of Rs 1 crore, underlining his importance to the Maoist movement and the urgency for his capture.
Known for his deep familiarity with the Bastar forests and his tactical expertise, Chalapati commanded a personal security detail of 8-10 guards. He was often armed with advanced weaponry, including AK-47s and SLR rifles, and was instrumental in strategizing and leading Maoist operations. Recently, he relocated his base to the Gariaband-Odisha border to evade increasing security operations in Abujhmad.
Details of the Encounter
The encounter took place in the Kularighat reserve forest of Chhattisgarh, located about 5 km from the Odisha border. Acting on intelligence inputs, a joint team comprising the District Reserve Guard, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), CoBRA commandos, and Odisha’s Special Operation Group launched a coordinated operation.
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The exchange of fire led to the death of Chalapati and 19 other Maoists, whose identities are yet to be confirmed. Security forces recovered weapons, including a self-loading rifle, ammunition, and bombs from the site, further crippling Maoist capabilities in the area.
Government Reaction
Union Home Minister Amit Shah lauded the success, stating, “Another mighty blow to Naxalism. Our security forces achieved major success towards building a Naxal-free Bharat… With our resolve for a Naxal-free India and the joint efforts of our security forces, Naxalism is breathing its last today.”
The government’s efforts to counter Maoist violence have been yielding results. Last year, 800 Maoists were arrested, and 802 extremists surrendered, reflecting a steady decline in the group’s strength. Additionally, 219 Maoists, including 217 from the Bastar region, were neutralized in security operations.
