Security forces dealt a major blow to left-wing extremism on Thursday by killing ten Naxals in Chhattisgarh’s Gariaband district. Among those killed was Central Committee member Manoj alias Modem Balakrishna, one of the most wanted Maoist leaders who carried a bounty of ₹1 crore. The 10 Naxals killed in Chhattisgarh encounter is being called a serious setback for CPI (Maoist)’s Odisha State Committee.
Superintendent of Police Nikhil Rakhecha said the fierce encounter broke out in the dense forests near Mainpur after joint teams of the Special Task Force (STF), CRPF’s CoBRA battalion, E-30 unit, and district police launched an anti-Maoist operation. Acting on specific intelligence, the forces engaged in an intense gun battle that lasted for hours.
According to officials, Balakrishna had been active since the early 1980s under various aliases. He played a key role in orchestrating attacks in Odisha and Chhattisgarh and had risen to become secretary of the Odisha State Committee. His elimination has disrupted Maoist command in the border belt.
SIB officials said the operation shows the capability of forces to penetrate Maoist strongholds. So far this year, security forces have killed 241 Maoists across Chhattisgarh.
