NEW DELHI: At least 15 Maoist cadres, including a top leader of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) carrying a bounty of Rs 1 crore, were killed in a major encounter with security forces in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district on Thursday, officials said. The exchange of fire broke out deep inside the Saranda forest near Kumbhdih village, under the Chotanagra police station limits, and was continuing at the time of filing this report.
Among those killed was Anal Da, also known as Tufan or Pati Ram Majhi, a Central Committee member of the CPI (Maoist) and one of Jharkhand’s most wanted insurgent leaders. He was considered a key strategist and operational commander in the Saranda region, a long-standing Maoist stronghold due to its dense forests, rugged hills and difficult terrain.
According to preliminary information, security forces were conducting a large-scale anti-Maoist search operation based on specific intelligence inputs when Maoist cadres, allegedly lying in ambush, opened fire early in the morning. The forces retaliated, triggering heavy gunfire that echoed across nearby villages for several hours. Local residents reported hearing sustained firing from inside the forest from the early morning hours.
Confirming the encounter, Inspector General of Police (Operations) Michael Raj said the operation began around 6.30 am. “We cannot confirm the exact number of Maoists killed as the operation is still underway. However, along with Anal Da, around eight to nine more Maoists have been neutralised,” he said, adding that security forces have cordoned off the area and are carrying out intensive search operations.
Anal Da was among the three most wanted Maoist leaders in Jharkhand. The other two—Misir Besra, a Politburo member and secretary of the Eastern Regional Bureau, and Aseem Mandal alias Akash Mandal—are yet to be accounted for, officials said.
Jharkhand Director General of Police Tadasha Mishra described the encounter as one of the biggest successes for the state police in recent years. “This is a very significant achievement. Our forces have been engaged in this operation since morning, and it marks a major blow to Maoist leadership in the region,” she said.
Saranda forest has long been a hub for Maoist activities, providing natural cover for insurgents due to its inhospitable terrain. Senior officials said continuous operations, improved intelligence gathering, and coordination between central and state forces have intensified pressure on Maoist groups in the area.
