Hazaribagh: In a major success for security forces, four Maoists were killed in an encounter in the Batuka forest area of Hazaribagh on April 17, police officials confirmed.
The operation was carried out within the limits of the Keredari police station after authorities received specific intelligence about the presence of Maoist cadres in the region. Acting on the tip-off, security personnel launched a search operation, which soon escalated into a gunfight.
According to SDPO Barkagaon Pawan Kumar, all four Maoists were neutralised during the encounter. “Four Maoists have been killed in the gunfight. No security personnel were injured in the operation,” he said.
One of the slain Maoists has been identified as Sahdeo Mahto, who carried a bounty of Rs 15 lakh on his head, indicating his significant role within the Maoist network.
The encounter comes just days after another fierce exchange of fire on April 15 in West Singhbhum, where a Maoist squad led by Misir Besra—who has a bounty of ₹1 crore—engaged security forces, leaving four जवान injured.
The latest operation is part of an ongoing crackdown on Left Wing Extremism (LWE) under the Centre’s security strategy. The Ministry of Home Affairs has been actively coordinating with state governments to eliminate Maoist influence across affected regions.
Notably, Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently informed Parliament that India is now largely free from Maoist violence, marking a significant milestone more than five decades after the insurgency began.
This declaration followed a comprehensive security review conducted under the National Policy and Action Plan to Address Left Wing Extremism, launched in 2015.
While sporadic encounters continue to occur, officials maintain that the frequency and intensity of Maoist activities have significantly declined. The latest success in Hazaribagh is being seen as further evidence of the shrinking operational space for Maoist groups in the country.
Security forces remain on high alert in forested and border areas to prevent any regrouping attempts by remaining cadres.
