Bokaro
Two Maoists were killed and one jawan from the CRPF’s CoBRA battalion died during an early morning encounter on Wednesday in the dense forests of Birhordera under Gomia police station, Bokaro district, Jharkhand.
The encounter started around 6 a.m. when security forces, acting on intelligence about Maoist presence, began combing the forest area. Suddenly, they came under heavy fire from Maoists. In the retaliatory action, two Maoists were shot dead. One wore a uniform while the other was in civilian clothes. An AK-47 rifle was found at the site. The identities of the Maoists are yet to be confirmed.
A CoBRA-209 battalion jawan was critically injured during the gunfight. He was being taken for advanced treatment but died on the way to the hospital despite rescue efforts.
The area is still under search as security teams look for more hiding Maoists. Jharkhand Police have been running an intense anti-Naxal campaign and aim to free the state from Maoist influence by the end of 2025.
This year alone, 16 Maoists have been killed and about 10 have surrendered. Last year, 244 Maoists were arrested, nine were killed in encounters, and 24 surrendered, including top leaders like zonal and area commanders.
Authorities believe the continued operations and increasing surrenders show growing pressure on Maoist groups. Union Home Minister Amit Shah earlier stated that the entire country will be free from Maoist violence by March 2026.
Security forces remain on high alert as they continue efforts to secure the area and weaken Maoist influence in Jharkhand.