GARIABAND,INDIA: In a major operation, security forces gunned down 14 Maoists, including Central Committee member Jairam alias Chalpati, in Chhattisgarh's Gariaband district on Tuesday. Jairam, a senior leader of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist), carried a bounty of ₹1 crore on his head.

The Central Committee, the second-highest body in the Maoist hierarchy, functions under the supreme authority Politburo and relays directives to members. Reports indicate that Odisha Maoist leader Manoj and Special Zonal Committee (SZC) member Guddu were also among those killed in the encounter.

The operation was launched on Monday night following specific intelligence inputs. It was a joint effort by security forces from Chhattisgarh and Odisha, including Operation Group E30 of Odisha Police, the 207th battalion of CRPF’s CoBRA unit, CRPF’s 65 and 211 Battalions, and SOG Nuapada.

According to officials, the gunbattle began when Maoists opened fire upon spotting security personnel in the Kulhadighat area of Gariaband district. The forces retaliated, resulting in intermittent firing before the rebels fled the area.

During a subsequent search operation, security personnel recovered 14 bodies along with a cache of weapons, including automatic firearms such as SLR rifles. The search operation continues, and the identification of the deceased rebels is underway.

The joint operation marks a significant success for security forces in their ongoing efforts to curb Maoist activity in the region.