PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, August 13: An armed encounter broke out on Wednesday morning between security forces and Naxalites in the dense and hilly terrain of Souta, under the Goilkera police station limits in the Saranda forest region of West Singhbhum district.
One Naxal was reported killed in the exchange of fire, and an SLR rifle was recovered from the spot.
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According to officials, personnel of the CRPF and Jharkhand police were conducting a search operation in the area when they came under sudden fire from Naxalites.
The security forces retaliated promptly, leading to the death of one Maoist operative.
This operation forms part of the ongoing anti-Naxal drive in the insurgency-affected regions of the district.
Security forces are continuing combing operations to ensure that no other Naxalites remain hidden in the vicinity.
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The Kolhan and Saranda forest belts are known strongholds of the CPI (Maoist), with several top leaders— including Misir Besra, Anmol, Mochu, Anal, Aseem Mandal, Ajay Mahato, Sagen Angaria, Ashwin, Pintu Lohra, Chandan Lohra, Amit Hansda alias Upton, Jaykant, and Rapa Munda— reportedly active along with their armed squads.
Security agencies have intensified operations to neutralize these cadres and dismantle their network.
