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Officials said a clearer picture would emerge after the operation concludes. (Source: Express Archives/ Representational)
A top Maoist leader of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), carrying a Rs 1 crore bounty on his head, was killed with around nine others in an encounter between security forces and Maoist cadres in the Saranda forest area of West Singhbhum district on Thursday, officials said.
The exchange of fire began near Kumbhdih village under the Chotanagra police station limits, and the operation is still underway.
According to preliminary inputs, around 15 Maoists are suspected to have been killed in the encounter, though the officials informed that the counting deaths is still going on. Residents of surrounding villages reported hearing continuous gunfire from the early morning hours, with heavy firing echoing from deep inside the forest.
The operation comes ahead of the central government’s March 2026 deadline to end the insurgency. The Chaibasa Police said security forces were conducting an anti-Maoist search operation in the dense Saranda forests when Maoists, allegedly lying in ambush, opened fire. The forces retaliated, following which the encounter intensified.
Confirming the operation and the killing of Anal da alias Tufan, IG (Operations) Michael Raj told The Indian Express that the operation, based on intelligence inputs, began around 6.30 am. “As of now, we are not disclosing the full details. We cannot confirm the numbers of dead maoists. But yes, along with Anal da, around eight to nine more have been killed.”
Among Jharkhand’s three most wanted Maoist leaders, Anal Da, alias Pati Ram Majhi, was killed in this operation. He was a Central Committee member active in Saranda. However, the officials have not yet confirmed about the other two; Misir Besra, a Politburo member and secretary of the Eastern Regional Bureau who once escaped police custody, and Aseem Mandal, alias Akash Mandal, originally from West Bengal.
Raj said Saranda continues to be a major operational area for Maoists due to its challenging terrain. “The difficult terrain, dense forests and rugged hills give the CPI (Maoist) a stronghold to continue their activities. A large-scale operation is underway inside the forest,” he said, adding that the area has been cordoned off by security teams.
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Calling the operation successful, Jharkhand’s DGP, Tadasha Mishra, said that the killing of the most wanted Maoists had brought about the biggest achievement for the police. “It’s a very good job from our soldiers’ side. The operation was ongoing since morning, and this operation is one of the biggest successes we were looking for,” she said.
Additional forces have been deployed in the area. Officials said a clearer picture would emerge after the operation concludes.
Shubham Tigga is a Correspondent at The Indian Express, presently based in Pune, where he covers the intersections of infrastructure, labor, and the modern economy. His reporting focuses on civil aviation, urban mobility, the gig economy, and workers' unions, providing critical insights into how transit and commercial sectors impact the daily lives of citizens. Expertise & Background Before moving to Pune, he reported extensively from his home state of Chhattisgarh, where he focused on Indigenous (Adivasi) issues, environmental justice, and grassroots struggles in mainland India. This experience gives him a unique lens through which he analyzes the impact of large-scale infrastructure projects on local communities. Academic Foundation He is an alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), where he honed his skills in investigative reporting and ethical journalism. His academic training, combined with his field experience in Central India, allows him to navigate complex socio-economic landscapes with nuance and accuracy. You can reach out to him on LinkedIn ... Read More
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