14 Naxals killed at Odisha-Chhattisgarh border, big blow to Naxalism: Shah

According to the police, a member of the Naxal group, who had a bounty of 1 crore rupees on his head, was also killed

Describing it as "another mighty blow to Naxalism", Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said 14 Naxalites were killed in a joint operation by the CRPF, SoG Odisha and Chhattisgarh Police along the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border.

With the resolve for a Naxal-free India and joint efforts of security forces, Naxalism is breathing its last today, Shah said.

"Another mighty blow to Naxalism. Our security forces achieved major success towards building a Naxal-free Bharat. The CRPF, SoG Odisha, and Chhattisgarh Police neutralised 14 Naxalites in a joint operation along the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border," Shah wrote on X.

An official said the Maoists were killed in a fresh exchange of fire that took place late Monday and early Tuesday morning in a forest under the Mainpur police station area along the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border.