India – Jharkhand – Ranchi: Despite official claims that Naxalism in Jharkhand is nearing eradication, a decisive phase of anti-Maoist operations is underway in the dense Saranda forests, where security forces have intensified a large-scale joint offensive against the remaining insurgents.
Jharkhand Police, along with CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action), Jharkhand Jaguars, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and other units, have launched coordinated operations aimed at arresting or neutralising the last remaining Maoist cadres believed to be hiding in the region.
Officials said pressure has been steadily increased across Saranda, with security forces establishing a near-complete cordon around suspected hideouts and simultaneously appealing to militants to surrender.
According to police estimates, around 20 to 22 Maoists, including at least 15 “most wanted” cadres, are still operating or hiding in the forested belt. Intelligence inputs suggest that many of them are heavily armed and dispersed in small groups across difficult terrain.
The crackdown comes shortly after the surrender of 25 Maoists, including 10 women, on May 21. Officials said the mass surrender has significantly weakened the remaining network and demoralised those still in hiding.
Jharkhand Police Inspector General (Operations) Narendra Singh said the ongoing operation is progressing as planned.
“Our forces have established a complete cordon. The operation is in its decisive stage,” Singh said, adding that security agencies have detailed intelligence on weapons, movements, and support networks of the remaining insurgents.
Among those still at large are several senior Maoist leaders carrying significant rewards. These include Politburo and Special Area Committee members, as well as regional and area commanders, some of whom are reportedly carrying AK-47 and INSAS rifles. Two top leaders are said to carry bounties of ₹1 crore each.
Police officials also confirmed that insurgents from outside Jharkhand, including cadres from West Bengal, are active in the Saranda region, indicating cross-border coordination within Maoist networks.
Authorities said more than 10,000 personnel have been deployed across Saranda in what is being described as one of the largest anti-Naxal operations in the state’s history. The deployment includes CRPF units, CoBRA commandos, Jharkhand Jaguars, and state armed police forces.
Security officials claimed that Maoist presence in the region has been “reduced to a negligible level” following a series of encounters and mass surrenders over the past year. So far in 2026, 22 Maoists have been killed in various operations, with the highest concentration of encounters reported from Saranda.
The police also cited earlier operations in which several high-value Maoist leaders were neutralised, further weakening the organisational structure of the insurgency in Jharkhand.
Despite these gains, officials acknowledged that the remaining cadres continue to pose a challenge due to their knowledge of the terrain and access to forest hideouts.
Authorities have urged the remaining Maoists to surrender and join the mainstream, stating that continued resistance is increasingly unsustainable amid intensified security pressure.
The operation is ongoing, with security forces maintaining surveillance and cordon strategies across known forest routes and suspected escape corridors in Saranda.
