Jharkhand Police Express Confidence in Meeting March 31 Deadline to Eliminate Maoist Threat
Following significant counter-insurgency successes in the Saranda forest region on Thursday and Friday, where security forces eliminated 17 Maoist extremists including central committee member Anal Da, Jharkhand police officials on Friday declared their confidence in eradicating Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) from the state by the March 31 deadline established by the Central government.
Surrender Appeal and Rehabilitation Focus
Police authorities emphasized that alongside intensified security operations, their strategy now includes a strong focus on encouraging extremists, particularly misguided youth, to surrender and return to mainstream society. CRPF inspector general Saket Singh made a direct appeal to Maoist cadres, stating, "We appeal to youths who have strayed into LWE to approach any police camp or official to surrender. They will be welcomed and rehabilitated. However, they will have to pay a heavy price if they continue with the Maoists."
Inspector general (operations) Michael Raj reinforced this message, asserting that the morale and operational backbone of Maoist groups had been decisively broken through recent operations. "I want to tell LWE members that police are receiving continuous inputs about their movements and are taking action accordingly. Under these circumstances, they should surrender," he stated, adding that authorities are actively engaging with families of extremists to persuade them to abandon violence and reintegrate into society.
Dramatic Reduction in Maoist Presence
Police assessments reveal a dramatic contraction in Maoist operational strength across Jharkhand, with current estimates suggesting only around 60 active extremists remain in the entire state. The geographical footprint of Maoist activity has similarly shrunk considerably:
- Approximately 40 to 50 Maoists are now confined to areas under just two police station limits in West Singhbhum district
- Around four extremists remain active in Chatra district
- Another four operate in Latehar district
- Only two Maoists are believed to be active in Hazaribag district
This represents a remarkable reduction from previous years when Maoist influence extended across multiple districts. Officials noted that the number of police stations affected by extremism in West Singhbhum alone has decreased from 14 to just two—Jaraikela and Chotanagara.
Ongoing Challenges and Leadership Elimination
Despite this progress, security operations continue to face challenges in affected areas, particularly due to extensive planting of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) by retreating Maoist elements, which has slowed the pace of clearance operations in some regions.
On the leadership front, police confirmed that among top Maoist commanders, only two remain active:
- Politburo member Misir Besra
- Central committee member Asim Mandal
Three other senior leaders have been eliminated in recent operations:
- Patiram (also known as Anal Da)
- Vivek
- Shadeo Soren
The elimination of these key figures, combined with the dramatic reduction in operational strength and geographical reach, has bolstered police confidence that the March 31 deadline for eliminating Left-Wing Extremism from Jharkhand is achievable through continued pressure and surrender-focused initiatives.
