In a major breakthrough, security forces have gunned down a top Maoist commander in Jharkhand’s Chaibasa district. The wanted insurgent, identified as Amit Hasda alias Aaptan, was carrying a hefty reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head.
The encounter took place in the dense Saranda forest area under the Goilkera police station. According to West Singhbhum Superintendent of Police Paras Rana, the operation led to the neutralization of the high-value target. Security forces recovered an SLR rifle, explosives, and several other weapons from the site.
Following the gunfight, a massive search operation was immediately launched in the surrounding forest to track down any other Maoist hideouts. Investigations into the incident are currently ongoing.
This successful operation comes just days after a tragic incident in the state’s Palamu district, where two brave police officers lost their lives in a fierce firefight with Maoists. That encounter, which occurred in the early hours of September 3 in the Kedal forest, involved members of the banned Tritiya Sammelan Prastuti Committee (TSPC).
Officials revealed that the operation was launched based on intelligence that the TSPC’s dreaded zonal commander, Shashikant Ganjhu—who also carries a Rs 10 lakh reward—was expected to visit his native village for the Karma festival. As security forces moved in, they were met with indiscriminate fire from Ganjhu and his armed squad.
The injured policemen were rushed to a hospital in Daltonganj, but two of them, Santan Kumar and Sunil Ram, tragically succumbed to their injuries. One of the slain personnel was serving as the bodyguard for the Palamu Additional Superintendent of Police.
Security forces continue their operations across Jharkhand to apprehend Shashikant Ganjhu and other Maoist leaders.
