How Intel, Drone Surveillance Helped Execute Mega Anti-Naxal Ops In Chhattisgarh - News18

How Intel, Drone Surveillance Helped Execute Mega Anti-Naxal Ops In Chhattisgarh - News18

In the first three weeks of 2025, 48 Naxal deaths have already been accounted for. (PTI)

In one of the biggest anti-Naxal operations in recent times, a joint force of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and the CRPF eliminated more than 25 Maoists on the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border in a three-day operation that continued until Tuesday. The casualty figures could go up, as per police officials on the ground, but the operation has already made 2025 more successful than 2023 in terms of number of Maoists killed.

As per central agency data, in 2023, 50 Naxals were killed. In 2024, the number increased almost six-fold to 290. In the first three weeks of 2025, 48 Naxal deaths have already been accounted for. Central agency officials said the 2025 numbers could cross the 2023 figure once the search operations in Gariaband-Nuapada area are completed. “Fourteen bodies were recovered till Tuesday morning. More bodies can be seen on the ground. The number of casualties could cross 25 once the operation ends," a CRPF official said.

The joint operations by Special Operations Group, Odisha, E30 force of Chhattisgarh, and CRPF saw close to 1000 personnel spread out along the Bhalu Digi Pahadi (hills) on the Gariaband (Chhattisgarh)-Nuapada (Odisha) border.

“Since the night of January 19, there were intelligence inputs about the presence of a large number of Maoists in the Kularighat Reserve forest of Chhattisgarh, just five kilometres from the border of Nuapada district of Odisha," an Odisha Police statement said.

Sources on the ground told CNN-News18 that air surveillance via drones also helped forces get real-time inputs about the presence of Naxals. CPI Maoist cadres have often taken advantage of dense foliage to escape forces.

IG Amresh Misha said: “We did close monitoring and hence got results. The numbers can increase as search operation is underway."

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One of the killed Naxals has been identified as central committee member of CPI Maoist Jairam alias Chalpati. Chalpati, 60, carried a Rs 1 crore reward on him. Two other women Naxals have been identified by the police. A huge cache of arms and ammunitions and at least one SLR has been recovered by the forces.

Deadly automatic weapons recovered following Anti-Naxal ops in Chhattisgarh