Bhubaneswar: At least 14 Maoists were killed in a joint operation conducted by the Odisha and Chhattisgarh police, along with CRPF personnel, in the Kularighat Reserve Forest of Chhattisgarh, located just 5 km from the Nuapada district border in Odisha.
The Maoists were killed during an exchange of fire with security forces, Odisha DGP Y B Khurania said here on Tuesday.
The joint operation was launched on the night of January 19, based on intelligence inputs about the presence of a large number of Maoists in the Kularighat Reserve Forest.
Two female Maoist cadres were neutralised in the operation on Monday, and security forces recovered a large quantity of firearms, ammunition, and IEDs, including one SLR.
DGP Khurania stated that during the ongoing operation, 12 more Maoists were killed during an exchange of fire late Monday night and early Tuesday morning. The encounter involved the Special Operations Group team as part of the joint interstate operation.
Police sources indicated that the number of Maoist casualties might increase. A significant cache of arms and ammunition has been seized.
A massive search operation is currently underway in the area.
In 2024, six Maoists were killed, eight were arrested, and 24 surrendered.
In 2025, to date, 14 Maoists have been killed in joint interstate operations with Chhattisgarh police and CAPF, Odisha police sources reported.