Ranchi: A notorious Maoist commander was killed in an encounter with security forces in the Chaibasa area of West Singhbhum district, officials said on September 7.
Amit Hansda alias Aaptan, zonal commander of the banned CPI Maoist was gunned down in a gunfight that broke out between a joint team of security forces and Maoists in Relaparal forest area.
The forces after the gunfight also recovered weapons including an SLR rifle from the site of the encounter. An intensive search operation in the area is still underway.
“A hardcore naxal was killed in an encounter with security forces comprising the district police and COBRA battalion in Chaibasa. Weapons, including an SLR rifle, have been recovered. Operation is underway,” said IG Operations, Michaelraj S.
As per the details, the operation was launched by a joint team of district police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Jharkhand Jaguar [JJ] and Commando Battalion for Resolute Action [CoBRA] after receiving credible intel about the presence of Maoists in Relaparal forest area.
The joint team upon reaching the spot came across heavy firing from Naxals to which the security personnel retaliated heavily. Following the gunfight, the team recovered body of Maoist commander Aaptan along with a weapon.
#WATCH | Chaibasa, Jharkhand: SP Rakesh Ranjan says, "Chaibasa police received a tip about the presence of a CPI (Maoist) squad in the jungle area near Rehla Pal. Based on this, Chaibasa police and COBRA 209 Battalion formed a joint team led by Additional Superintendent of Police… https://t.co/bnQ2FjnDKg pic.twitter.com/x93pSjYZNN
— ANI (@ANI) September 7, 2025
A resident of Bokaro, Aaptan was a seasoned Maoist who was active in Maoist’s outfit for over a decade. He was named in several cases [95] registered at separate police stations and was carrying a bounty of Rs 10 lakh as announced by the government. His areas of operations include West Singhbhum and Khunti districts. He was also involved in murders of nearly a dozen police officers and innocent civilians.
Two security personnel were martyred in an exchange of fire between security forces and members of banned Tritiye Sammelan Prastuti Committee [TSPC], a breakaway faction of CPI [Maoist] on September 4.
The gunfight broke out in Kedal area under the jurisdiction of Mantu police station of Palamu district, leading to martyrdom of two security personnel Sant Kumar and Sunil Ram.
Security forces in Jharkhand have intensified operations against Maoists, neutralising a number of key Naxal operatives belonging to separate banned outfits since January this year. Separate outlawed groups including TSPC, CPI [Maoist], People’s Liberation Front of India [PLFI] and Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad [JJMP] are active in the State.
According to Union Government, two districts of the State, West Singhbhum and Latehar remained affected by ‘red terror,’ which the government aims to eliminate by March 2026.
