Ranchi: Security forces achieved a major success in Jharkhand’s anti-Maoist operations after four Maoists, including a senior commander carrying a ₹15 lakh bounty, were killed in an encounter along the Chatra–Hazaribagh border on Friday.
Officials from the Jharkhand Police said the operation was launched based on specific intelligence inputs provided by the Intelligence Bureau regarding the presence of a Maoist squad in the area.
Joint teams of police and security forces carried out a cordon-and-search operation. As the forces closed in, the Maoists opened fire, triggering a fierce gunfight that lasted several hours. In the exchange, four Maoists were killed, while others are suspected to have sustained injuries and fled.
One of those killed was Sahdev Mahto, a key Maoist commander believed to be involved in several major incidents in the region.
After the encounter, security personnel recovered two AK-47 rifles, along with other weapons, ammunition, Maoist literature, and daily-use materials from the site.
Meanwhile, another major operation is underway in the Saranda forest region near Chaibasa, where security forces have surrounded a Maoist group. All escape routes have been sealed, and aerial surveillance is being used to track their movement.
Reports suggest that senior Maoist leader Misir Besra, who carries a bounty of ₹1 crore, could be among those trapped. The group is estimated to include over 100 Maoists.
Superintendent of Police Amit Renu said the operation is ongoing and more details will emerge once it concludes.
In the past three days, six security personnel have been injured in IED blasts and firing incidents in West Singhbhum, highlighting the risks involved in the continued crackdown on Maoist activities in the region.
With inputs from IANS