Bhubaneswar, Jan 24: Twelve of the 16 Naxalites killed in a fierce encounter with security forces in Odisha's Nuapada district and the Kullarighat forest area bordering Chhattisgarh have been identified as notorious extremists.

Among them, one was identified as Alok, also known as Munna, a top leader from Kulasri under Niali police limits in Cuttack district, Odisha, who had a reward of ₹18 lakh on his head.

Other deceased Naxals include Gudu and Satyam, each carrying a reward of ₹20 lakh; Bauribandhu, a district committee member with a ₹5 lakh bounty; Bijay, a central committee member with a ₹3 lakh reward; and two female extremists, Kala and Rami, with ₹1 lakh each. The list also includes Sukhram, Shankar, Rinki, and Jaini.

The encounter, led by a joint operation involving the Chhattisgarh Police, CRPF, and Odisha Police’s Special Operations Group (SOG), resulted in the recovery of a massive arsenal of weapons, including AK-47s, SLRs, and INSAS rifles. Authorities have hailed the operation as a significant blow to Maoist insurgency in the region.

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