In a significant operation, at least 14 Maoists were killed in an encounter with Chhattisgarh Police in the Gariaband district near the state's border with Odisha on Tuesday. Among those killed was a top Maoist leader carrying a bounty of ₹1 crore, officials said.

The encounter, which began late Monday night and continued into early Tuesday, took place in a dense forest under the Mainpur police station area. The operation was part of an ongoing anti-Maoist mission in the region, police sources confirmed.

Casualties and Ongoing Operation
Police have indicated that the number of casualties may increase as the operation progresses. A day earlier, two women Maoists were killed, and a CoBRA commando sustained injuries during the same mission.

"The operation has been intense and spread across a challenging terrain along the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border. With the latest exchange of fire, 12 more Maoists were neutralized, bringing the total to 14," an official stated.