Jharkhand’s Biggest Anti-Maoist Operation: Security Forces Kill Wanted Rebel in Palamu

Palamu (The Uttam Hindu): A major encounter broke out on Sunday between security forces and members of the banned extremist group TSPC (Tritiya Sammelan Prastuti Committee) in the forests of Palamu district, Jharkhand. In the gunbattle, police gunned down Mukdev Yadav, a most-wanted Maoist carrying a bounty of ₹5 lakh.

According to police sources, the operation was launched to track down Shashikant, a dreaded Maoist commander with a bounty of ₹10 lakh. During the extensive combing operation by CoBRA commandos, Jharkhand Jaguar, and other security teams, the Maoists opened fire. Security forces retaliated, killing Mukdev Yadav on the spot.

Officials confirmed that Mukdev was involved in several serious crimes, including the September 3 Palamu encounter in which two policemen were martyred. Sunday’s operation is being described as the largest offensive so far, with more than 200 security personnel deployed. Reports suggest Shashikant’s squad consists of 8–10 members, including Mukdev and another wanted Maoist, Nageena.

Earlier on September 7, security forces had killed Amit Hansda alias Upton, a Maoist carrying a bounty of ₹10 lakh, in an encounter in West Singhbhum’s Goilkera region. Amit, a resident of Bokaro district, was wanted in 96 cases of Maoist violence.

Jharkhand Police data reveals that, on average, three Maoists are killed every month in encounters across the state. Currently, an estimated 100–150 Maoists remain active in Jharkhand, with 58 Maoists on the wanted list, carrying a combined bounty of over ₹5.46 crore.

The state’s most-wanted list includes 13 top Maoist leaders of CPI (Maoist) such as Misir Besra, Patiram Manjhi, and Asim Mandal, each carrying a bounty of ₹1 crore. Others on the list include Anmol, Mochu, Ajay Mahto, Agen Angaria, Ashwin, Pintu Lohra, Chandan Lohra, Jaykant, and Rapa Munda.

This year’s biggest anti-Maoist encounter took place on April 21 at Lugu Pahad in Bokaro, where police killed eight Maoists, including Prayag Manjhi alias Vivek, who carried a ₹1 crore bounty. The Jharkhand Police, along with central forces, have set a target to make the state Maoist-free by March 2026. Since January this year, 24 Maoists have been killed in counter-insurgency operations.