Chaiyabasa/Ranchi: Security forces achieved a significant breakthrough in the ongoing anti-Naxalite operation in the Saranda forest area of West Singhbhum district, Jharkhand. On Friday morning, a fierce encounter took place between security personnel and Naxalites near the villages of Kumdi and Hinjodiri under the Kiriburu police station. During this clash, a woman Naxalite was killed.
This encounter has raised the total number of Naxalites killed in the operation to 16. The day before, on Thursday, a major gunbattle in the dense Saranda forests resulted in the deaths of 15 Naxalites, including Patiram Manjhi, also known as Anil Da, a central committee member with a reward of one crore rupees on his head. Among those killed were five women Naxalites.
IG Saket Kumar Singh of the CRPF stated that the joint operation ‘Operation Medha Buru’ was launched at around 6:30 am on Thursday, involving units such as 209 Cobra, Jharkhand Jaguar, CRPF, and district police. During the operation, the armed squad led by Anil Da opened indiscriminate fire on the security forces, who responded in self-defense.
After multiple phases of intense firing, security forces recovered the bodies of 15 Naxalites along with a large cache of weapons, ammunition, and daily-use items. The deceased included Anmol alias Sushant (BJASAC), Amit Munda (RCM), Pintu Lohra, Laljit alias Lalu, Rajesh Munda, Bulbul Alda, Babita, Purnima, Surajmuni, and Jonga. Many of these individuals had bounties ranging from several lakhs to crores announced by Jharkhand, Odisha, and the NIA and were involved in numerous serious criminal cases.
Anil Da, originally from the Peertand area of Giridih district, had a total reward of over two crore rupees announced on him—one crore from Jharkhand, 1.2 crores from Odisha, and 15 lakh rupees by the NIA. He was the accused in 149 criminal cases. Security agencies highlighted that since 2022, his squad played a key role in various IED blasts and violent incidents across Kolhan and Saranda regions of Chaiyabasa.
IG Saket Kumar Singh noted that the elimination of Anil Da would have a decisive impact on Naxalite activities in areas bordering Odisha. Security agencies estimate that the number of active Naxalites in Jharkhand has now reduced to between 50 and 60. The Jharkhand Police has appealed to the remaining Naxalites to surrender and avail the benefits of the state government’s surrender and rehabilitation policy.
Currently, intensive search operations continue throughout the Saranda region, with additional security forces deployed to maintain control and prevent any resurgence of violence.
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