Four Maoists Killed in Jharkhand Encounter, Rs.15 Lakh Reward Commander Among Dead

Ranchi: In a major breakthrough for anti-Maoist operations, security forces killed four Maoists, including a top commander carrying a ?15 lakh reward, during an encounter along the Chatra–Hazaribagh border in Jharkhand on Friday.

According to officials from the Jharkhand Police, the operation was launched based on precise intelligence inputs from the Intelligence Bureau about the presence of a Maoist squad in the area.

Acting on the tip-off, joint teams of local police and security personnel initiated a cordon-and-search operation. As forces closed in, the Maoists opened fire, leading to a prolonged gun battle. After several hours of intense exchange, four Maoists were neutralised on the spot, while some others are believed to have been injured.

Among those killed was Sahdev Mahto, a key Maoist commander who was allegedly involved in several major incidents in the region.

Following the encounter, security forces recovered two AK-47 rifles, along with other sophisticated and country-made weapons, ammunition, Maoist literature, and daily-use items from the site.

In a parallel operation, security forces have surrounded another Maoist group in the dense Saranda forests near Baliba village under the Chotanagra police station area. All escape routes have been sealed, and aerial surveillance is underway.

There are indications that the group may include senior Maoist leader Misir Besra, who carries a bounty of ?1 crore. The number of Maoists in the area is estimated to be over 100.

Chaibasa Superintendent of Police Amit Renu confirmed that the operation in the Saranda region is ongoing, and further details are awaited.

Notably, six security personnel have been injured in recent IED blasts and firing incidents in West Singhbhum over the past three days, underscoring the continued intensity of anti-Maoist operations in the region.

With inputs from IANS