Security forces located and dismantled a Maoists’ arms cache in the dense forests of Goilkera and Tonto in Chaibasa, West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand on Sunday. During the operation, they recovered a large stockpile of ammunition, including five Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), which were safely neutralized on-site by a bomb disposal unit to avoid any threat to public safety.
Police officials reported that the operation was launched based on intelligence inputs suggesting Maoists had hidden weapons and ammunition in the forested areas of Goilkera and Tonto.
“During the extended search, our personnel destroyed an old Maoists’ cache near Rutagutu village under the jurisdiction of Tonto police station. The recovered IEDs were disposed of on location with assistance from the bomb disposal team as a preventive measure,” said Chaibasa Superintendent of Police, Ashutosh Shekhar.
He also confirmed that the security team seized a significant quantity of ammunition and essential supplies from the site.
The recovered items included five IEDs, two detonators, 18 gelatine sticks, two pressure cookers, 50 feet of electrical wire, two 12-volt batteries, several live cartridges, and other daily-use materials.
As part of an ongoing effort, security forces have so far dismantled multiple Maoist hideouts, including over three dozen underground bunkers. Among them was a shelter used by senior Maoist leader Misir Besra, who carries a reward of Rs 1 crore on his head. These bunkers varied in size, ranging from 25x35 to 15x20 feet.
Security personnel continue to maintain a strong presence in the area and are on heightened alert to detect any movements by high-ranking Maoist operatives.
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It is worth noting that Maoist influence has been largely pushed back to the Saranda forests of Jharkhand, with other regions of the state now considered clear of their presence.
Current estimates suggest around 85 to 90 Maoist insurgents remain in hiding within Saranda, where they have reportedly laid thousands of IEDs, posing ongoing risks to security operations.
The state police, in coordination with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), initiated a joint combing operation in the Kolhan and Saranda forest regions of Chaibasa in November 2022.
This operation was triggered by intelligence reports indicating the presence of senior Maoist commanders, including the elusive Misir Besra.
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