Gariaband: 14 Naxalites killed in police-Naxalite encounter, large quantity of automatic weapons recovered
Gariaband: Naxal eradication campaign is being run in district Gariaband under the direction of senior officers, in this connection, on the intelligence of the presence of Naxalites of SDK Area Committee and Indagaon Area Committee under Dhamtari-Gariaband-Nuapada Division of Odisha State Committee in the area around Kulhadighat Bhaludigi hill of Mainpur police station of district Gariaband, a joint party of E-30 Gariaband (District Force Gariaband), Cobra-207, CRPF-65 and 211 battalion and SOG District Nuapada Odisha left for Naxalite patrol search towards the anti-Naxal operation information site.
During the campaign on 19.01.2025 at around 10 am, Kulhadighat Bhaludigi hill 10 km from Odisha border. The Naxalites ambushed the security forces inside and started firing indiscriminately with the intention of killing them and looting their weapons. The security forces also took up positions and fired in retaliation in self-defense. Seeing themselves surrounded by the security forces and the increasing pressure of the security forces, the Naxalites fled taking cover of the jungle and hills. The encounter has been going on for about 36 hours.
After the encounter, on searching the site of the incident and the surrounding areas, the bodies of a total of 14 male/female Naxalites were recovered along with the Central Committee member and his protection team, SDK Area Committee of Dhamtari-Gariaband-Nuapada Division and Maoists of Indagaon Area Committee. In the encounter, 14 automatic/other weapons along with INSAS, SLR and a large amount of Naxalite material were recovered. The bodies of the killed Naxalites and the recovered material will be identified and further legal action will be taken after returning them to the district headquarters. At present, the encounter is still going on.
Constable Neeraj Kumar Verma of Cobra 207 Battalion was injured during the encounter on 20.01.2025. He was sent to Shri Narayana Hospital for better treatment. Similarly, Constable Dhamendra Bhoi of SOG Nuapada was injured in the encounter today on 21.01.2025. He has also been sent to Shri Narayana Hospital for treatment. At present, the condition of both the soldiers is normal.
