Senior Maoist Leader Chalapati Killed After Decades in Hiding, Selfie Leads to His Demise
Jayaram Reddy, alias Chalapati, a top Maoist leader who evaded capture for decades, met his end after a selfie with his wife, Aruna (also known as Chaitanya Venkat Ravi), exposed his identity. Chalapati was one of 20 Maoists killed in a joint operation by central and state police forces near the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border earlier this week.
Chalapati, who had a bounty of ₹1 crore on his head, masterminded the infamous 2008 Nayagarh attack in Odisha, where 13 security personnel were killed. During the attack, Maoists looted a police armoury and blocked all routes with felled trees, ensuring their escape.
The breakthrough in tracking Chalapati came in 2016 when security forces recovered an abandoned smartphone after an encounter in Andhra Pradesh. The device contained a selfie of Chalapati and his wife, who was a deputy commander of the Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC). This evidence prompted authorities to increase efforts to locate him, leading to the announcement of a ₹1 crore reward.
Originally from Andhra Pradesh’s Chittoor district, Chalapati rose to prominence within the Maoist organization as a member of its central committee, the group’s top decision-making body. Known for his expertise in guerrilla warfare and military tactics, he was primarily active in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, before relocating to the Odisha border due to increased counterinsurgency operations in the region.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah lauded the operation as a significant step in eliminating Maoist insurgency. “Our security forces have delivered a major success toward building a Naxal-free Bharat,” Shah posted on X, commending the joint efforts of the CRPF, SOG Odisha, and Chhattisgarh Police.
The operation marks a decisive blow to Maoist groups, with at least 40 insurgents neutralized in Chhattisgarh this year alone. Shah reaffirmed the government’s resolve to eradicate Naxalism by March 2026, stating, “Naxalism is breathing its last today.”