New Delhi: Security forces achieved a significant breakthrough against Maoist insurgency in Jharkhand after killing fifteen Maoists, including a senior leader carrying a bounty of Rs 1 crore, during an intense encounter in West Singhbhum district. The operation took place deep inside the Saranda forest region under the Kiriburu police station area and is being described as one of the most decisive actions against Left Wing Extremism in the state in recent years.
The top Maoist leader killed in the gunfight has been identified as Patiram Majhi, also known as Anal Da, a long time operative who had been active in the extremist movement since the late 1980s. Security agencies had been tracking his movements for years, as he was considered a key figure in sustaining Maoist activities in the Kolhan and Saranda regions, which are regarded as the last remaining strongholds of the outfit in Jharkhand.
The encounter followed a large scale anti Maoist operation that began earlier in the week based on specific intelligence inputs regarding the presence of the senior leader and his armed squad in the forest area. Around 1,500 personnel from the CRPF’s elite CoBRA unit, along with state police forces, were deployed for the mission. Exchange of fire began in the early hours of Thursday and continued for several hours.
Security forces recovered the bodies of all fifteen Maoists from the encounter site along with a substantial quantity of arms and ammunition, indicating the operational strength of the group that had been operating in the area. Search and combing operations are continuing to ensure that no remaining cadres are hiding in the dense forest terrain.
Senior security officials have termed the operation a major success in weakening Maoist networks in Jharkhand. Over the years, sustained action by security forces has significantly reduced Maoist influence in several districts, pushing them into shrinking forest pockets.
The latest operation aligns with the national objective of eliminating Maoist violence by March 2026. Officials noted that consistent intelligence driven operations, combined with development initiatives, have led to large numbers of Maoists being arrested, neutralised, or surrendering across Jharkhand over the past two decades, marking steady progress toward lasting peace in the region.
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