Ranchi: The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), along with the state police, intensified operations against left-wing extremists (LWE) in the state, particularly in Saranda forest area of West Singhbhum, where Maoist politburo member Misir Besra and his commanders are hiding.The forces aim to achieve Union home minister Amit Shah’s vision of eradicating LWEs from the country by March 31.
IG (CRPF) Saket Singh said, “The number of Maoists in Saranda have reduced from 150 at beginning of 2025 to 50 at present. Their overall strength in the state is around 65. They would be eliminated soon. Police have also appealed to them to surrender and join mainstream.”The forces conducted 298 operations across Jharkhand in January, 187 in December 2025, and 133 in November 2025. In the past 13 months since January 2025, the highest number of operations — 333 — were carried out in May 2025.The forces eliminated 17 Maoists, including their central committee member Anal Da, in an encounter in Saranda forest on Jan 22.In the recent past, six companies of CRPF were withdrawn from other parts of the state and deployed in Saranda, taking the number to 31. The CoBRA, the Jharkhand Jaguar, and district police are also deployed here.The CRPF set up camps in Saranda, which provides several advantages to the force, officials stated, adding that they increase the operational reach and restrict the Maoists’ movement.The forces busted 152 Maoist camps, hideouts, and morchas, and were engaged in 24 encounters across the state in 2025. The forces recovered 325 improvised explosive devices and cane and arrow bombs, and seized 4,479 kgs of explosives and 19,017 detonators. A total of 97 weapons and 67,341 cartridges were also recovered.A large portion of the seizures were made in Kolhan and Saranda, officials said.Personnel busted 152 Maoist camps, hideouts, and morchas, and were engaged in 24 encounters across the state, but mostly in Kolhan and Saranda, in 2025
