Once dominant in the densely forested Saranda region of Jharkhand, the Maoists have been reduced to a life on the move following the killing of senior leader Patiram Manjhi alias Anal Da in an encounter on January 22.
The gunfight in the Saranda forests of West Singhbhum saw security forces surround and eliminate 17 Maoists, including Anal Da, who carried a reward of ₹2.35 crore.
Police officials say the remaining Maoists in Saranda have abandoned permanent camps and shifted to temporary, mobile shelters to escape detection. According to IG (Operations) and Jharkhand Police spokesperson Michaelraj S, the rebels now set up camps for a single night before moving on.
Carrying all their belongings, they change locations daily to avoid security forces, reflecting a major shift in their operational strategy.
Official estimates suggest only around 50 to 55 Maoists are still active in Saranda, with two of them carrying rewards of ₹1 crore each.
As security forces continue to push deeper into the forests, they have uncovered remnants of the Maoists’ earlier stronghold strategy. The rebels had constructed fortified bunkers, designed with advanced methods to store weapons securely.
These bunkers were protected by extensive networks of spike traps and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to block police access.
During operations last year alone, more than 45 such bunkers were unearthed. These structures were used to stock food grains, medicines, arms, and other essentials, forming the backbone of the Maoists’ long-term survival plans.
Since 2022, nearly four dozen police camps have been set up inside the dense Saranda forests. Over the past five years, around 380 Naxalites have been arrested, while 27 have been killed in encounters between 2023 and 2026. Security forces have also seized more than 70 weapons.
In the same period, over 600 IEDs, around 170 spike traps, and nearly 100 Maoist bunkers have been destroyed. Continuous operations and sustained pressure have brought security forces close to their goal, with authorities confident that Saranda could soon be declared free of Maoist presence.
Also read: Dhoni likely to be brand ambassador of Jharkhand tourism
Follow us
