New Delhi: In a significant victory against left-wing extremism, Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised security forces for eliminating 16 Naxals, including a top Rs 1 crore bounty Maoist leader, in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district. The operation in the dense Saranda forests marks a pivotal moment in India’s campaign to eradicate Naxalism by March 31, 2026.
The joint effort by CRPF and Jharkhand Police targeted ‘Anal alias Patiram Manjhi,’ a Central Committee member of the CPI(Maoist), along with 15 other insurgents. Among the deceased were three women cadres, including notorious figures like Anmol alias Sushant and Amit Munda. Shah took to social media platform X to announce the success, underscoring the government’s unwavering commitment to end decades of terror inflicted by Naxal groups.
‘This is a major success in our Naxal-free India mission,’ Shah posted. He renewed his appeal to remaining insurgents to abandon violence and integrate into mainstream society through development and trust-building initiatives. Patiram Manjhi, active in the Kolhan region for years, carried bounties totaling over Rs 2 crore from Jharkhand and Odisha authorities, with dozens of serious cases registered against him.
Security forces recovered a cache of arms and ammunition from the encounter site, dealing a severe blow to the Maoist hierarchy in eastern India. Officials highlighted the precision of intelligence-led operations that have intensified under the current administration. As Naxal-affected areas witness rapid infrastructure growth, such encounters signal the waning influence of armed rebellion.
Experts view this as part of a broader strategy combining aggressive policing with socio-economic measures. The government’s roadmap includes expanding road networks, schools, and healthcare in remote regions to wean locals away from extremist ideologies. With this haul, the nation inches closer to a Naxal-free future, fostering peace and prosperity across tribal heartlands.