Ranchi, Jan 22 (UNI) Security forces on Thursday eliminated CPI (Maoist) central committee member and top leader Anal Da, carrying a bounty of Rs 1 crore, in a fierce encounter in the Saranda forests of West Singhbhum district.
Reports indicate that at least 14 other Maoists were also killed in the operation.
Confirming the development, IG (Operations) Michael Raj said Anal Da, also known as Patiram Manjhi, was neutralised during a prolonged gunfight between Maoist cadres and joint security forces. The encounter took place near Kumbhdiha village under the Chotanagra police station area.
According to Jharkhand Police headquarters, the exchange of fire began around 6 am on January 22 after specific intelligence inputs suggested that a Maoist squad led by Anal Da was planning a major strike. Acting on the information, joint teams of CoBRA, Jharkhand Jaguar and the CRPF launched a coordinated operation in the Saranda forest belt.
During subsequent search operations, security forces recovered 15 bodies along with a large cache of arms and ammunition, including AK-47 rifles, INSAS rifles, SLRs and hundreds of rounds. The identification process is underway with the assistance of local villagers. Maoists Rajesh and Bulbul, each carrying a reward of Rs 2 lakh, have been identified among the dead.
Anal Da was regarded as one of the most influential Maoist leaders operating in the Jharkhand-Bihar region. A native of Giridih district, he was associated with the CPI (Maoist)’s Jharkhand-Bihar Special Area Committee and had been active in the Saranda forests for several years. With his death, only two Maoists carrying a bounty of Rs 1 crore are believed to be active in the state.
Senior police officials said the operation dealt a severe blow to the Maoist leadership structure, significantly weakening its command and operational capabilities.
The Saranda encounter follows a series of successful anti-Maoist operations carried out by Jharkhand Police in 2025. Official figures show that 32 Maoists were killed in encounters last year, 30 surrendered and 279 were arrested. Since 2011, a total of 235 Maoists have been killed in encounters across the state.
Security agencies maintain that Maoist influence in Jharkhand has now been reduced to limited pockets, primarily in Saranda and parts of the Kolhan region.
With the elimination of Anal Da at the start of 2026, officials say the state has gained further momentum in its campaign against Left-wing extremism.
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