Jharkhand Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have achieved a major success in an anti-Naxal operation. In a fierce encounter in the Chaibasa district, security forces killed 8 Naxals, including dreaded Naxal Anal Da, who carried a bounty of Rs 1 crore on his head.
Anal was considered one of the most dreaded Maoist leaders in Jharkhand.
The encounter took place in a dense forest area of Chaibasa after security forces launched a search operation based on intelligence inputs about the presence of Naxalites. During the operation, the Naxalites opened fire on the forces, triggering heavy retaliatory firing from the security forces.
A large cache of arms and ammunition is also suspected to have been recovered. Search operations are still underway in the area and security forces have cordoned off the entire region to ensure no Naxalites escape.
"At least eight Maoists were killed. A search operation is underway after the gunfight stopped. The final number of casualties will be provided later," a senior police officer said.
"Patiram Majhi alias Anal Da has been killed in the operation," he added.
Ganesh Uike, five other Naxals killed in December operation
Earlier, in December last year, as many as six Naxals, including Central Committee Member Ganesh Uike, were killed in a major operation in the forests of Kandhmal in Odisha. Home Minister Amit Shah hailed the operation, calling it a "significant milestone towards Naxal-free Bharat".
"In a major operation in Kandhmal, Odisha, 6 Naxalites, including Central Committee Member Ganesh Uike, have been neutralised so far. With this major breakthrough, Odisha stands at the threshold of becoming completely free from Naxalism. We are resolved to eliminate Naxalism before the 31st of March 2026," he said.
Uike, a Central Committee member of the CPI (Maoist) who had a reward of Rs 1.1 crore on him, was the top leader of the banned organisation in Odisha, according to a senior police officer overseeing anti-Naxal operations in the state.
The officer said the encounter occurred in a forested area under the Chakapad police station limits.
Uike, who was 69 years old, was known by several aliases, including Pakka Hanumantu, Rajesh Tiwari, Chamru and Rupa. He belonged to Pullemala village in Chendur mandal of Telangana’s Nalgonda district.
