‘Join mainstream or face action’: Rs 1-crore bounty Maoist Analda killed in Jharkhand as Amit Shah reaffirms March 2026 target

JAMSHEDPUR/RANCHI: Security forces gunned down 15 Naxalites, including 51-year-old Patiram Majhi alias Analda, who carried a Rs 1-crore bounty on his head in Jharkhand, during an early morning operation on Thursday.

Anal da was a central committee member (CCM), the highest decision-making body of CPI (Maoist), and had as many as 149 cases against him filed across several police stations in Jharkhand. Security forces termed the elimination of 15 Maoists, including Anal da, a significant achievement towards Maoist-free Jharkhand. Union home minister Amit Shah termed it a major success to make the region free of Naxals. Taking to X, he said, “Today, in a joint operation by CRPF and Jharkhand Police in West Singhbhum, the ongoing campaign to eradicate Naxalism achieved a significant success with the neutralisation of notorious Maoist central committee member ‘Anal alias Patiram Manjhi’, who carried a bounty of Rs 1 crore, and 15 other Naxalites (sic).

“We are determined to end Naxalism, which has been synonymous with fear and terror for decades, before March 31, 2026. I once again appeal to the remaining Naxalites to abandon the ideology that links them with violence, terror and weapons and join the mainstream of development and trust.” The CRPF and state police neutralised Anal da and 14 others during a special operation carried out based on specific intelligence inputs.

There was heavy exchange of fire from both sides during the operation. Notably, Saranda in West Singhbhum is currently theonly pocket in Jharkhand which has the presence of LWE extremists. Police have fixed a target to free Jharkhand from LWE by March this year. Among the eliminated Maoists are five women. Police said Thursday’s operation was by far the biggest in terms of Naxal fatalities. Sources in the security forces said the encounter started at Kumbhdih village under the Chotanagara police station limits early on Thursday. Besides Anal da, the other deceased Maoists were identified as Bihar Jharkhand Special Area Committee member Anmol alias Sushant, regional committee member Amit Munda, sub-zonal committee members Pintu Lohra and Laljit alias Laloo, area committee members Rajesh Munda, Bulbul Alada, Babita, Purnima, Surajmuni and Joga.