Chaibasa, September 7: Security forces achieved a major breakthrough on Sunday morning by gunning down Amit Hansda, a top Maoist commander, in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum forests during an encounter. The slain rebel was a wanted extremist carrying a reward of ₹10 lakh on his head.
The fierce gun battle between the security forces, comprising Jharkhand Police and COBRA battalion, and Maoists began around 6 a.m. near Burjuva Hills under Goilkera police station limits. The security forces had launched a search operation based on intelligence inputs. However, maoists, hiding in the dense forest, opened fire, prompting a heavy retaliation by security personnel.
The body of Hansda, a self-styled zonal commander of CPI (Maoist), was recovered after the encounter ended. Hansda, originally from Bokaro, carried a reward of ₹10 lakh announced by the Jharkhand government. Alongside his body, security forces seized an SLR rifle and several rounds of ammunition.
Police officials confirmed that multiple Maoists fled deeper into the jungle during the encounter however, Hansda’s death marked a major blow to the outfit’s network in the Kolhan region. DIG Kolhan Nuranjan Kispatta said the operation is still underway and combing teams are searching for more rebels.
This incident comes just days after a deadly encounter in Palamu on September 4, where two policemen were martyred and one injured in an attack by TSPC cadres. The operation was aimed at nabbing the group’s top commander Shashikant Ganjhu, who also carries a ₹10 lakh bounty, but he managed to escape once again.
With Hansda’s death, security forces believe Maoist influence in Jharkhand’s Kolhan and adjoining areas has suffered a major setback.
Jharkhand Police has reiterated that intensified operations will continue and expressed confidence that left-wing extremism in the state can be eradicated by March 2026.
