15 Maoists, Including Rs 1 Crore Bounty Holder Anal Da, Killed in Saranda Forest Encounter

Chaibasa - At least 15 Maoists, including senior leader Patiram Manjhi alias Anal Da, who carried a bounty of Rs 1 crore, were killed in a major encounter with security forces in the Saranda forest of Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district on Thursday, officials said.

Inspector General of Police (Operations), Jharkhand Police, Michaelraj S., confirmed the death of Anal Da along with several other Maoists. He said a large-scale search and combing operation is still underway in the area.

A resident of Giridih district, Anal Da had been associated with the Maoist movement for more than two decades and was regarded as one of its key strategists. His influence spanned multiple districts, including Giridih, Bokaro, Hazaribagh, Khunti, Seraikela-Kharsawan and West Singhbhum, and he played a pivotal role in strengthening Maoist networks in the Saranda and Kolhan regions.

Police said dozens of serious criminal cases were registered against him, ranging from attacks on security forces and IED blasts to extortion and issuing threats to contractors.

According to officials, the encounter began early Thursday near Kumbhdih village under Chotanagra police station limits after security forces launched a joint operation based on specific intelligence inputs. Maoists, who were lying in wait, opened indiscriminate fire, prompting a strong retaliatory response.

After several hours of intense gunfire, security forces managed to surround the Maoists and gain the upper hand. Kolhan DIG Anuranjan Kispotta said the operation is ongoing and further details will be shared once it concludes.

Michaelraj S. said several bodies, along with sophisticated weapons, ammunition and daily-use items, have been recovered. The entire area has been sealed, additional forces deployed and senior officers are supervising the operation on the ground.

With inputs from IANS