At least 12 Maoists gunned down in early-morning encounter near Odisha-Chhattisgarh border

BHUBANESWAR: At least 12 Maoists were gunned down in a fierce encounter in Kularighat Reserve Forest in Chhattisgarh's Gariabandh district on Tuesday morning, officials said.

The encounter site is located about 5km from the border of Odisha's Nuapada district.

Authorities have indicated that the death toll may rise as the operation continues.

The director-general of police (DGP) Y B Khurania confirmed that the operation was a coordinated effort between the forces of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

Initiated on Monday morning, the primary objective of the operation was to thwart the movement of Maoists across the border areas, addressing the growing concerns over their activities in the region.