In a major operation against Maoist Naxals, security forces killed 15 Maoists in a fierce encounter in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district on Thursday. Among those killed was Patiram Majhi, also known as Anal Da, a high-profile Maoist Naxal who carried a bounty of ₹1 crore on his head. The encounter took place in the dense Kumdi area of the Saranda forest, under the jurisdiction of Kiriburu police station.

The operation was carried out by a large contingent of security forces, including around 1,500 personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force’s elite CoBRA commando unit. According to police officials, the exchange of fire began at around 6 am and continued for several hours. By the time of the latest updates, the firing was still ongoing in the forest area.

A senior police officer confirmed that the bodies of 15 Maoists were recovered from the encounter site. Along with the bodies, security forces also seized a significant cache of arms and ammunition from the area. The officer stated that Anal Da was among those killed during the operation, marking a major success for the anti-Maoist campaign in the region.

The anti-Maoist operation in the Saranda forest had been underway since Tuesday. It intensified into a full-scale gun battle early on Thursday morning after security forces acted on specific intelligence inputs. Inspector General of Police (Operations) Michael Raj S said that the operation was launched based on precise information about Anal Da’s presence in the area along with his squad. He explained that the intelligence inputs played a crucial role in planning and executing the operation.

Anal Da was a resident of Pirtand in Giridih district and had been associated with Maoist activities since 1987. Over the years, he had emerged as one of the most wanted Maoist leaders in the region. Security agencies had been tracking him for a long time and had launched multiple operations to capture or eliminate him. His death is seen as a significant setback for Maoist groups operating in eastern India.

Just a few days before the encounter, CRPF Director General Gyanendra Pratap Singh had visited Chaibasa, the district headquarters of West Singhbhum. His visit highlighted the increased focus of security forces on Maoist-affected areas in the region. Officials said that the visit was part of efforts to strengthen operations and improve coordination among forces deployed in the area.

Kolhan and Saranda forests are considered among the last major strongholds of Maoist insurgents in Jharkhand. According to officials, security forces have already made substantial progress in reducing Maoist influence in several other areas of the state. Insurgent presence has significantly declined in regions such as Buda Pahad, Chatra, Latehar, Gumla, Lohardaga, Ranchi, and Parasnath. The current operation in Saranda is part of the broader campaign to eliminate remaining Maoist networks.

Officials believe that the killing of Anal Da and other Maoists could disrupt the command structure of Maoist groups operating in eastern India. They said that this encounter represents an important success in India’s ongoing fight against left-wing extremism. However, security forces remain alert, and operations in the area are continuing to ensure that no Maoist elements escape or regroup.

Further details regarding the recovered weapons and any additional casualties are expected once the operation is fully concluded. Authorities have stated that updates will be shared as the situation develops and the search operation in the forest area progresses.