In a major joint operation conducted by Odisha and Chhattisgarh police, along with CRPF personnel, 10 Maoists were gunned down in the border areas of Nuapada district in Odisha. The operation was launched following intel received on the night of January 19, which indicated the presence of a large number of Maoists in the Kularighat reserve forest of Chhattisgarh. Two female cadres were initially neutralized, with 16 Maoists killed in total so far, and the number is expected to increase as the search and combat operation is still ongoing.
In a joint operation by the CRPF, SoG Odisha, and Chhattisgarh Police, 14 Maoists, including a top leader with a bounty of Rs. 1 crore, were killed near the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border. Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised the security forces for the "mighty blow to Naxalism" and the "joint efforts" towards a Naxal-free India. The operation was launched after receiving intelligence about the presence of Maoists in the Kularighat Reserve Forest. The toll is expected to increase as the encounter is still on.
On the International Day of Forests, Vedanta Aluminium, India's largest producer of aluminium, has announced its commitment and efforts towards preserving the ecology in and around its operations in Chhattisgarh and Odisha. Through the plantation of over 2 lakh saplings on five reclaimed ash dykes, the company demonstrates the potential for sustainable reclamation of areas previously not under forest cover. Additionally, Vedanta Aluminium has implemented comprehensive Biodiversity Management Plans and collaborated with ERM India to achieve Net Positive Impact on biodiversity by 2030. The company's CEO, Mr. John Slaven, emphasizes the critical role of biodiversity conservation in responsible business operations and the vision for a sustainable planet.