Bhubaneswar/IBNS: At least 14 Maoists were killed in an encounter at Kularighat Reserve Forest near the border of Odisha and Chhattisgarh on Tuesday morning, media reports said.

The encounter is still on.

A Maoist carrying a bounty of Rs. 1 crore was also killed in the encounter, police said.

Union home minister Amit Shah called the neutralisation of the 14 Maoists a "mighty blow to Naxalism".

In an X post, Shah said, "Another mighty blow to Naxalism. Our security forces achieved major success towards building a Naxal-free Bharat. The CRPF, SoG Odisha, and Chhattisgarh Police neutralised 14 Naxalites in a joint operation along the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border.

"With our resolve for a Naxal-free India and the joint efforts of our security forces, Naxalism is breathing its last today."

The encounter took place about 5 kilometers from the border of Odisha's Naupada district.

The operation was launched upon learning about the presence of Maoists in the Kularighat Reserve Forest in Chhattisgarh.

The tally, which includes two women Maoists who were killed on Monday in the same operation, is likely to rise.