Saturday, March 29, 2025
In a significant breakthrough under the government’s ‘Naxal-Free India’ mission, Jharkhand police eliminated a top Naxalite and arrested another high-value target in Latehar district. The encounter marks a crucial win in the ongoing anti-Naxal operations across India’s Red Corridor.
On Sunday night, a fierce gunbattle broke out between security forces and armed Naxals in the forested region between Karamkhand and Dhowna under Mahuadanr Police Station in Latehar. The encounter lasted through the night into Monday morning. During the operation, police gunned down Manish Yadav, a commander of the banned CPI (Maoist) and a wanted militant with a reward of ₹5 lakh on his head.
Simultaneously, police apprehended another top Naxalite, Kundan Kherwar, who was carrying a ₹10 lakh bounty. His arrest is seen as a major blow to Naxal operations in the region. Both actions were confirmed by Palamu Range DIG Y.S. Ramesh.
DIG Y.S. Ramesh revealed that the operation was based on specific intelligence indicating Manish Yadav’s movement in the jungle with his group. Acting swiftly, the police surrounded the forest area. On being confronted, the Naxals opened fire, leading to a heavy exchange of bullets. Manish Yadav was neutralized in the crossfire, and security forces recovered two automatic rifles from the site during a subsequent search operation.
Just two days prior to this operation, police had achieved similar success in the Ichhavar forest under Sadar Police Station in the same district. In that encounter, police killed two more Naxals—Prabhat Ganjhu, who carried a ₹5 lakh reward, and Pappu Lohra, a JJMP supreme commander with a ₹10 lakh bounty.
The recent operations underscore the intensifying crackdown on Naxalites across Jharkhand and neighboring states including Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Maharashtra, and Telangana, all part of the central government’s broader counter-insurgency campaign.
With several high-profile Naxals either eliminated or captured, security forces continue to close in on remaining operatives as the push for a Naxal-free India gains momentum.
