In a major offensive against Left Wing Extremism, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Jharkhand Police eliminated 3 senior Maoist leaders in an early morning encounter on Monday in Hazaribagh district. Together, the trio carried a combined reward of ₹1.35 crore, reflecting their high rank in the Maoist hierarchy.
Those killed were Sahadev Soren, Central Committee Member, carrying a bounty of Rs 1 crore; Raghunath Hembram, Special Area Committee Member, with a Rs 25 lakh reward; and Virsen Ganjhu, Zonal Committee Member, with a Rs 10 lakh reward.
“Major Breakthrough in Jharkhand ! In a fierce gunfight during Op Chuna Pathar, brave teams of 209 CoBRA #CRPF and #JharkhandPolice eliminated 3 top naxal commanders at Karando, Hazaribagh in the wee hours today. 3 AK-47 rifles have also been recovered in the said operation,” CRPF announced on X.
Operation Chuna Pathar: How it unfolded?
Acting on specific intelligence, the 209 CoBRA battalion of CRPF and Jharkhand Police launched a joint operation in the Pantitri forest of Gorhar area around 4:20 am. The mission quickly escalated into a fierce gunfight in which all three ultras were neutralized. Security forces recovered three AK-47 rifles from the site, underscoring the scale of the Maoists’ firepower.
Officials described the encounter as a “decisive strike” against Maoist leadership in Jharkhand. The loss of senior leaders is expected to disrupt the organizational structure and weaken operational capabilities of the group in the state. According to security officials, such targeted operations are crucial to dismantling the Maoist network.
What was the aftermath of the encounter?
Security forces confirmed that no casualties or injuries occurred on their side. Combing operations have since been intensified to eliminate any remaining resistance and to track down other operatives who may have fled during the encounter. Authorities say the strike will have long-term implications for Maoist activities in Jharkhand.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah declared that following this operation, Naxalism has been completely eradicated from the Bokaro region in northern Jharkhand. “Soon, the entire country will be free from the problem of Naxalism,” he said on X.
How this strike is connected to the larger anti-Maoist campaign?
The Hazaribagh encounter comes just days after another Maoist leader was eliminated in Chaibasa on September 7. The slain commander, Aaptan alias Amit Hansda, carried a Rs 10 lakh reward. He was wanted in 95 criminal cases, including the killings of multiple police officials and civilians.
Together, these back-to-back eliminations signal a sustained and intensified crackdown on Maoist leadership in Jharkhand, a state long considered a stronghold of Left Wing Extremism.