Jamshedpur: Security forces have intensified anti-Maoist operations across Jharkhand, with the East Singhbhum district police stepping up their campaign against Maoist activities along the Jharkhand-West Bengal border.

As part of the intensified crackdown, the East Singhbhum police have released fresh posters identifying six hardcore Maoists   associated with the group led by CPI (Maoist) Central Committee member Asim Mondal alias Akash, who carries a reward of Rs 1 crore.

According to the police, Mondal’s group once had around 15 members, but sustained anti-Naxal operations have significantly weakened its strength. Five members of the group have been arrested, one has surrendered and three have been killed during separate operations, leaving six cadres who are currently being targeted by security forces.

The latest posters, carrying the photographs, names, addresses and reward amounts of the six wanted Maoists, were released by the East Singhbhum police. Police personnel have put up the posters in remote villages bordering West Bengal under the MGM, Galudih and Ghatshila police station areas, as well as at marketplaces, major crossings, bus stands, railway stations and other prominent public locations.

The campaign is aimed at generating information from the public about the whereabouts of the remaining Maoists. Police have assured that the identities of informants will be kept confidential and that eligible informants will receive the announced reward amounts.

Rs 1 Crore Reward for Asim Mondal

The police poster lists Asim Mondal alias Akash alias Timir alias Manoj as the most wanted member of the group, with a reward of ₹1 crore already declared against him.

The other five wanted Maoists are:

• Ram Prasad Mardi alias Maharaj alias Sachin — Rs 15 lakh reward.

• Mita alias Nayantara alias Ghumo alias Pori — Rs 10 lakh reward.

• Mangal Singh Sardar alias Mangal Mahto alias Pandey alias Mangal Da — Rs 5 lakh reward.

• Malti Murmu alias Malti — Rs 2 lakh reward.

• Bulu Mahto alias Geeti — Rs 1 lakh reward.

Police records indicate that the reward amount for some of the Maoists has been revised upward. Mita, who earlier carried a Rs 1-lakh reward, now has a Rs 10-lakh bounty. Similarly, a Rs 5-lakh reward has been announced for Mangal Singh Sardar, who previously did not have a specific reward amount publicly declared. A Rs 2-lakh reward has also been announced for Malti Murmu, while the ₹1-lakh reward for Bulu Mahto was already in place.

The police said the anti-Maoist campaign has already caused substantial attrition in Asim Mondal’s wider network.

Among those arrested was Bela Sarkar, who carried a Rs 15-lakh reward and was apprehended in West Bengal recently. Earlier, police had arrested Pradip Mondal, who carried a Rs 1-lakh reward.

In recent operations in the foothills of the Dalma range, security forces arrested three other wanted Maoists—Madan Mahto, carrying a Rs 15-lakh reward, Sagar Singh alias Viren Singh, carrying a Rs 5-lakh reward, and Meena, carrying a Rs 2-lakh reward.

Three other Maoists were killed during security operations. They have been identified as Shyam Singh Sinku, who carried a Rs 1-lakh reward, Prakash alias Atul, who carried a Rs 2-lakh reward, and Sameer.

Meanwhile, Pushpa alias Shakuntala Mahto, who carried a Rs 2-lakh reward, recently surrendered in West Bengal along with a weapon, according to police.

With these developments, police are now concentrating their efforts on tracking down the remaining six cadres and dismantling the group’s remaining network in East Singhbhum.

Anti-Maoist Operations Continue Along Jharkhand-Bengal Border

Police and CoBRA personnel have been conducting sustained anti-Maoist operations for several months across the forested and hilly terrain extending from Dalma to Ghatshila along the Jharkhand-West Bengal border.

CoBRA personnel are currently deployed at the Kesharpur, Bhomaradiha and Kalchiti security posts, from where security forces maintain surveillance over the surrounding areas. Search operations are being conducted periodically in forested and remote locations based on intelligence inputs.

Despite the sustained security presence, Asim Mondal and his remaining associates have so far managed to evade arrest.

According to police, the Maoists are believed to be using the difficult terrain in the approximately 30-35 km mountainous belt between Dalma and Ghatshila to move between forested areas and avoid detection.

The monsoon season has added to the operational challenges. Dense vegetation, rugged hills, slippery terrain and difficult accessibility have made movement and search operations more difficult for security forces. Police believe the Maoists have been attempting to exploit these conditions to remain concealed.

Police Release Contact Numbers for Information

The East Singhbhum police have also released contact numbers for members of the public who may have information about the wanted Maoists.

People can contact:

•              SP, East Singhbhum: 9431706480

•              SP (Rural): 9470199228

•              DSP, Patamda: 9431706496

Police have appealed to residents to immediately share any information related to Maoist movement, presence or activities with the authorities. They have reiterated that the identity of informants will be kept confidential.

Police Confident of Making District Maoist-Free

The police said the latest poster campaign is part of a broader strategy to isolate the remaining Maoist cadres by increasing public awareness and gathering intelligence from local communities.

East Singhbhum Rural SP Shubham Khandelwal said security forces remain deployed at key security posts and operations are continuing on the basis of intelligence inputs.

“Six Maoists now remain in Asim Mondal’s team. Police have released posters carrying their photographs, names, addresses and reward amounts and appealed to people to provide information. The identity of informants will be kept confidential,” Khandelwal said.

He further expressed confidence that East Singhbhum would soon become completely free of Maoist activity.

The police campaign comes as security forces continue efforts to dismantle the remaining Maoist presence in the district. With the group’s strength having declined significantly from its earlier numbers, authorities are now focusing on locating the remaining cadres and preventing them from rebuilding their network in the border and forested areas.