Top Maoist leader Anal Da killed as 16 Maoists shot dead in Jharkhand encounter

At least sixteen Maoists, including senior CPI (Maoist) leader Anal Da, who carried a bounty of Rs 2.35 crore, were killed in a fierce encounter with security forces in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district, police officials said.

The encounter broke out on Thursday in the Kumdi area of the Saranda forest under Kiriburu police station limits during an ongoing anti-Maoist operation that has been underway since Tuesday. Officials said around 1,500 personnel from the CRPF’s specialised CoBRA unit were involved, making it one of the largest counter-insurgency operations conducted in the state in recent years.

Five women were among the Maoists killed in the gunfight, which began around 6 am. A large cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from the encounter site.

Anal Da, a long-time Maoist operative and resident of Giridih district’s Pirtand area, had been active in the movement since 1987 and was wanted in 149 cases related to Maoist violence. He carried a reward of Rs 2.35 crore, including Rs 1 crore announced by the Jharkhand government, Rs 1.2 crore by Odisha, and Rs 15 lakh by the National Investigation Agency.

Police said Anal Da was allegedly involved in several high-profile attacks, including the assault on a CISF camp in Bokaro in March 2006 that left five personnel dead and two injured. He was also linked to the killing of five security personnel in Seraikela-Kharswan district’s Kukru Haat in June 2019 and the looting of around five tonnes of explosives in Odisha in May 2025.

Another senior Maoist leader killed in the encounter was Anmol alias Sushant, a member of the Bihar-Jharkhand Special Area Committee. He too was wanted in 149 cases and carried a bounty of Rs 90 lakh, comprising Rs 25 lakh from Jharkhand and Rs 65 lakh from Odisha.

Officials said other Maoists killed included regional committee member Amit Munda, who carried a reward of Rs 62 lakh and was wanted in 96 cases; sub-zonal committee members Pintu Lohar and Laljeet alias Lalu, each carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh; and area committee members Rajesh Munda, Bulbul Alda, Babita and Purnima.

The operation was launched after security forces received specific intelligence about the presence of Anal Da and his armed squad in the Saranda forest, officials said.

Kolhan and Saranda are considered among the last remaining Maoist strongholds in Jharkhand. Security forces have significantly weakened Maoist networks in other parts of the state, including Budha Pahad, Chatra, Latehar, Gumla, Lohardaga, Ranchi and Parasnath, officials added.

CRPF Director General Gyanendra Pratap Singh had visited Chaibasa earlier this week to review the security situation, while senior CRPF officers reiterated their appeal to Maoists to surrender and join the mainstream.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has repeatedly said the Centre is determined to eradicate Left Wing Extremism from the country by March 31, 2026.

Official figures show that between 2001 and 2025, more than 11,000 Maoists were arrested, about 250 killed and over 350 surrendered in Jharkhand.