Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Apr 21: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday commended the security forces for their significant success in anti-Maoist operations in Jharkhand, reiterating the government's firm commitment to eliminate Left Wing Extremism (LWE) by March 2026.
"Our march to eliminate Naxalism continues unabated," the Home Minister's Office (HMO) stated via a post on social media platform X, highlighting the government's unwavering resolve.
"Today security forces achieved another significant success in the ongoing operation to uproot Naxalism. In an encounter at Lugu Hills in Bokaro, Jharkhand, 8 Maoists were neutralised, including a top-level Naxal leader, Vivek, who carried a reward of Rs 1 crore, and two other notorious Naxalites. The operation is being continued. Applaud our security forces," the HMO announced.
During previous visits to Raipur and Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh, HM Shah had issued strong warnings to Maoist insurgents, urging them to surrender. He emphasized that any acts of violence would be met with decisive action by the security forces. Furthermore, he set an ambitious target of eradicating LWE from the country by March 31, 2026, prompting a surge in anti-LWE operations across several states.
In the recent operation in Jharkhand, at least eight Maoists, including senior commander Prayag Manjhi alias Vivek, were killed in Bokaro district. The encounter, which began early Monday morning, saw intermittent firing from both sides. Officials indicated that the casualty count could rise.
Slain Maoist Manjhi, a central committee member of the CPI (Maoist), was a high-profile figure with a bounty of Rs 1 crore on his head. He was active in the Parasnath hills and surrounding areas of Giridih and was wanted in over 100 incidents across Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha.
This year alone, 13 Maoists have been killed in encounters with security forces in Jharkhand. The police have set a goal to make the state completely Maoist-free by the end of 2025.
According to Jharkhand Police data, 244 Maoists have been apprehended this year, and nine were killed in encounters prior to the Bokaro operation. Additionally, 24 Maoists, including high-ranking commanders, have surrendered and rejoined the mainstream.