In a bloody clash in the Gariabandh district of Chhattisgarh’s Kularighat Reserve Forest on Tuesday morning, authorities reported that at least 12 Maoists had been shot dead. The encounter site is roughly 5 km from the Nuapada district border in Odisha. The number of fatalities could increase as the operation goes on, according to authorities.
A day later, two women identified as left-wing extremists associated with the Sonabeda-Dharambandha Committee were shot by a collaborative force comprising the Gariaband District Police, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), and Odisha’s Special Operation Group (SOG), all of whom are trained for anti-Naxal operations. Additionally, a CoBRA personnel sustained a minor injury during the encounter.
The coordinated operation commenced on January 19, following intelligence regarding the movement of Maoists linked to the Sonabeda-Dharambandha Committee. The confrontation took place at 8 am on Monday within the Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve, situated approximately 60 to 70 kilometers from the Gariaband Headquarters and around 20 kilometers from the Odisha border.
