Bokaro: Security forces on July 16 neutralised two hardcore Maoists in an encounter in Jharkhand’s Bokaro district, said police. A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan was also martyred in the gunfight.
The gun battle took place in Birhordera forest area at around 6AM in the morning, resulting in neutralization of two Maoists including a sub-zonal commander.
The operation was launched jointly by police and personnel of Command Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), an elite unit of the CRPF on receiving information related to presence of top Maoists in the area.
One of the Maoist killed during the exchange of fire was identified as sub-zonal commander Kunwar Manjhi alias Sahdeo Manjhi. He was carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh.
The security team following the stoppage of firing also recovered an AK-47 rifle from the spot.
The martyred jawan was identified as Praneshwar Koch, a resident of Kokrajhar of Assam. Koch sustained grave injuries in the gunfight.
Saluting his sacrifice, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said “Assam’s braveheart and Maa Bharti’s son CT/GD Parneswar Koch of Kokrajhar attained martyrdom fighting naxals in Jharkhand, early this morning. The people of Assam salute his sacrifice and offer our thoughts and prayers to his family.
शहीद को श्रद्धांजलि 🇮🇳
Assam's braveheart and Maa Bharti's son CT/GD Parneswar Koch of Kokrajhar attained martyrdom fighting naxals in Jharkhand, early this morning.
The people of Assam salute his sacrifice and offer our thoughts and prayers to his family.
We will always be…
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) July 16, 2025
“We will always be there to support them and this sacrifice will not go in vain as our forces unleash their power to eliminate naxalism from the face of the earth,” he added.
A search operation is continuing at the site of the encounter.
Security forces have intensified anti-Maoist operations in affected areas of the state lately, apprehending over 70 Maoists along neutralising around a dozen since January this year. At least 10 hardcore Maoists have also surrendered before the officials in the contemporary period.
