Chaibasa (Jharkhand): A major anti-Maoist operation continued for the third consecutive day in the Saranda forest of Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district on Friday, with security forces confirming the killing of 16 Maoists so far, including a top central committee member carrying a cumulative bounty of Rs 2.35 crore.
Police said the exchange of fire between security forces and Maoists was still underway in the Kiriburu area of the dense Saranda forest. Among those killed was Patiram Manjhi alias Anal Da, one of the most wanted Maoist leaders in eastern India. Jharkhand had announced a reward of Rs 1 crore on his head, Odisha Rs 1.2 crore, and the National Investigation Agency Rs 15 lakh.
Inspector General of Police (Operations) Michael Raj S said security forces were firmly holding the area and described the operation as one of the biggest anti-Naxal actions carried out in the state. Around 1,500 personnel, including elite CoBRA commandos of the CRPF trained in jungle warfare and Jharkhand Police units, are involved in the operation.
Five women Maoists were also among those killed, officials said. The operation gains significance as it comes close to the Centre’s March 31 deadline for ending Left-Wing Extremism in the country.
The crackdown began on Tuesday following specific intelligence inputs about the presence of Anal and his armed squad in Saranda forest. A day earlier, CRPF Director General Gyanendra Pratap Singh had met senior officers in Chaibasa to finalise the strategy. The first direct gunfight broke out on Thursday morning when security forces encountered the Maoists deep inside the forest.
Anal, who had been active since 1987, was involved in several high-profile attacks, including the March 2006 assault on a CISF camp in Bokaro that killed five personnel, the June 2019 killing of five security personnel in Seraikela-Kharswan district, and the looting of five tonnes of explosives in Odisha in May 2025.
Another senior Maoist leader neutralised in the operation was Anmol alias Sushant, a member of the Bihar-Jharkhand Special Area Committee, who was wanted in 149 cases and carried a reward of Rs 90 lakh. Regional committee member Amit Munda, who had a bounty of Rs 62 lakh and was wanted in 96 cases, was also killed.
Sub-zonal committee members Pintu Lohar and Laljeet alias Lalu, along with area committee members Rajesh Munda, Bulbul Alda, Babita and Purnima, were among the Maoists eliminated during the ongoing operation.
Kolhan and Saranda forests are considered the last major Maoist strongholds in Jharkhand. According to official data, more than 11,000 Maoists have been arrested in the state so far, while around 250 have been killed and over 350 have surrendered before security forces till last year.
