Chhattisgarh: Chalapati, also known as Appa Rao, a prominent Maoist leader with a ₹1 crore bounty on his head, was killed by security forces in Gariaband district, Chhattisgarh, on the night of January 20, 2025. The operation marked a significant blow to the Naxalite insurgency in India. Home Minister Amit Shah hailed the development as a “mighty blow to Naxalism,” although he did not mention Chalapati by name, confirming that 14 Naxalites were killed in a joint operation by the CRPF, SoG Odisha, and Chhattisgarh Police along the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border.
Shah expressed his optimism in a social media post, stating, “Naxalism is breathing its last” and commended the forces for achieving a major success toward a Naxal-free India.
Who Was Chalapati?
Chalapati, aged 60, was a veteran leader in the Naxalite movement and played a pivotal role in Maoist activities across the dense forests of Abujhmad in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region. Hailing from Chittool in Andhra Pradesh, Chalapati had been involved in Naxal operations for decades, orchestrating several attacks and leading key operations. He was one of the top strategists within the Maoist ranks and had a personal security detail of 8 to 10 Maoist fighters.
Chalapati’s strategic significance to the Naxals was underlined by his ability to evade security forces for years. However, his activities became increasingly concentrated near the Odisha border after heightened security in Abujhmad made it more difficult for him to operate.
The ‘Selfie’ That Led to His Demise
For years, security forces had been in pursuit of Chalapati with only blurry, outdated photos to go on. In 2016, however, a breakthrough occurred when the laptop of a deceased Maoist fighter was recovered by security forces. The laptop contained a clear selfie of Chalapati with his wife, Aruna, which provided valuable clues about his whereabouts. The image, seemingly taken from a smartphone, was widely circulated among security personnel and the public. This development was instrumental in narrowing down the search for Chalapati and his wife, who had a ₹5 lakh bounty on her head.
The photograph proved crucial, as it significantly boosted the efficiency of security forces’ efforts, leading them to Chalapati’s location in Chhattisgarh, where the fatal encounter took place.
A Major Victory in the Fight Against Naxalism
The elimination of Chalapati is being viewed as a major victory in the ongoing fight against Naxalism in India. With several high-ranking Maoist leaders being neutralized in recent years, authorities are hopeful that this will pave the way for greater stability in regions affected by insurgency.
