File Photo: Cartridges of bullets on the floor.
Credit: PTI Photo
Hyderabad: In a significant breakthrough in anti-Maoist operations, security forces killed three high-ranking ultras during an exchange of fire in the Maredumilli forests of Andhra Pradesh's Alluri Sitaramaraju district on Wednesday along Andhra Odisha Border (AOB).
The operation eliminated several key figures from the Maoist hierarchy, including Central Committee member Gajarla Ravi, who operated under the aliases Uday and Birusu. The deceased have been identified as Gajarla Ravi, a Central Committee and Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee member, Venkata Ravi Lakshmi Chaitanya alias Aruna, a AOB member, and Anju, AOB Special Zone Committee ACM.
Notably, Aruna was the wife of Chalapathi Rao, who was recently killed in a separate encounter operation. Aruna had been implicated in the 2018 murders of then-Araku MLA Kidari Sarveshwar Rao and former MLA Siveri Somu near Dumbriguda. The government had placed substantial bounties on the deceased militants, with Rs 25 lakhs on Uday and Rs 20 lakhs on Aruna. Security forces recovered three AK-47 assault rifles from the encounter site.
Recently in January, in an encounter at the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border, CPI Maoists Central Committee member Chalapathi alias Ramachandrareddy was killed. Chalapathi was a key mastermind in the previous attack case on CM Chandrababu in Alipiri. He was from Chittoor district and had a reward of Rs. 1 crore on him. In today's gunfire, Chalapathi's wife Aruna was killed.
Meanwhile Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, said that left-wing extremist violence has decreased by 83% compared to 2010 in India. He attributed this change to the strategic policies and stable governance of the Modi government. He said that the government is moving forward with 100% commitment to achieve the goal of a “Naxal-Free India” by March 2026. He emphasized that this is not just a resolution but a movement. He reiterated the government’s dedication to liberating India from Naxalism and terrorism and transforming the country into a peaceful, prosperous, and developed nation.
On Wednesday, during his visit to the National Security Guard (NSG) Campus in Manesar, Haryana, Minister Bandi Sanjay applauded NSG’s crucial role in Anti-Terror Ops. He also laid foundation for NSG Residential Complexes.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Indian government is moving swiftly to eliminate the grave issue of Left-Wing Extremism from its roots. Compared to 2010, left-wing extremist violence has dropped by 83%, and the number of deaths has decreased by 85%. This transformation is a result of effective strategies and stable governance. We are progressing with full commitment to achieve a “Naxal-Free India” by March 2026. This is not just a resolution—it is a movement. A movement to free India from Naxalism and terrorism, and to build a peaceful, prosperous, and developed nation. By 2047, India aims to become a "Viksit Bharat" (Developed India) and a guiding light to the world,” said Sanjay after laying foundation for NSG residential complexes.