Tue Jan 21 09:01:46 UTC 2025: ## Top Maoist Leader Chalapati Killed in Chhattisgarh Encounter
**Raipur, Chhattisgarh –** Jayaram Reddy, alias Chalapati, a key leader of the Maoist Central Committee and one of India’s most wanted insurgents, was killed in a major encounter in Chhattisgarh’s Kularighat reserve forest last night. Nineteen other Maoists were also killed in the exchange of fire with a joint team of security forces from Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
Chalapati, approximately 60 years old, carried a ₹1 crore bounty on his head, reflecting his significance within the organization. A native of Madanapalle, Andhra Pradesh, he had risen through the ranks despite a modest education (Class 10). He was known for his tactical expertise, leadership, and ability to operate effectively in the dense Bastar forests. His security detail numbered eight to ten personnel. He recently relocated his base from Abujhmad to the Gariaband-Odisha border in response to increased security operations.
The encounter followed intelligence reports indicating the presence of a large Maoist group in the area. Security forces recovered a significant cache of weapons, including an SLR rifle, ammunition, and explosives from the encounter site.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah hailed the operation as a major success in the fight against Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), stating that the operation represents a significant step towards a Naxal-free India. The government has intensified its efforts against Maoists in recent years, reporting over 800 arrests and over 800 surrenders in the past year, along with the killing of 219 Maoists in 2022 – 217 of whom were from the Bastar region.
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