Naxal With Rs 1 cr bounty among 3 shot in Jharkhand

New Delhi: Ahead of the March 2026 deadline, the CRPF and Jharkhand Police on Monday killed three top Naxal leaders in Hazaribagh. The trio carried rewards totalling ₹1.35 cr.

Those killed have been identified as Sahadev Soren, a central committee member carrying a bounty of ₹1 crore; Raghunath Hembram, a special area committee member with a reward of ₹25 lakh; and Virsen Ganjhu, a zonal committee member with a ₹10 lakh reward. Their deaths have further reduced the central committee of the banned CPI (Maoist) to a handful of ageing leaders.

The operation was carried out jointly by the 209 CoBRA battalion of CRPF and Jharkhand Police in the Pantitri forest of Gorhar area, Hazaribagh, following specific Intelligence inputs. According to CRPF officials, the operation began around 4.20 am and led to a fierce exchange of fire in which three ultras were gunned down. Security forces also recovered three AK-47 rifles from the site.


Officials said the encounter has led to significant dent to the Maoist network in Jharkhand. The elimination of the top leadership will impact the group's organisational structure and operational strength in the region.

Security forces have intensified combing operations in the area to ensure no further resistance from Naxal cadres. Officials said no security force personnel were injured or killed. On September 7 in Chaibasa, a prominent leader of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), Aaptan, was killed during a gunfight, according to Superintendent of Police (SP) Rakesh Ranjan.

The Maoist zonal commander (Amit Hansda) had a ₹10 lakh reward on him, had over 95 cases registered against him, and was allegedly involved in the murder of multiple police officials and civilians. Last week, slain Maoist leader Kishenji's wife Pothula Padmavathiv surrendered.

SC refuses to entertain plea by kin of slain Maoist Basavaraju

In another development, the Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a plea by the kin of top Maoist leader Nambala Keshav Rao, who was killed in an encounter in Chhattisgarh in May, over the handing over of his body for performing final rites.