Maoist carrying Rs 1 crore bounty among 3 red rebels killed in Jharkhand, search ops underway

Ranchi – Security forces in Jharkhand delivered a major blow to the banned CPI (Maoist) outfit on Monday, eliminating three armed rebels, including a top commander with a Rs 1 crore reward, during a fierce exchange of fire in a remote forested area.

The confrontation erupted around 4:20 a.m. in the Pantitri forest, situated within the jurisdiction of Gorhar police station in Hazaribag district. A joint team comprising personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Jharkhand Police had launched a targeted operation based on intelligence inputs tracking a Maoist squad led by Sahdev Soren, a prominent figure in the insurgent group.

According to a statement from the CRPF, the clash resulted in the neutralization of Sahdev Soren, identified as a Central Committee Member carrying the highest bounty of Rs 1 crore; Raghunath Hembram, a Special Area Committee Member with a Rs 25 lakh reward; and Virsen Ganjhu, a Zonal Committee Member valued at Rs 10 lakh. “In a joint operation, the Central Reserve Police Force and Jharkhand Police have neutralised three Naxals and recovered three AK-47 rifles,” the CRPF detailed.

Police officials confirmed that the bodies of the three Maoists were retrieved during subsequent searches, underscoring the intensity of the early-morning skirmish that had initially been reported around 6 a.m. Efforts to scour the dense terrain for additional insurgents or evidence continue, as authorities remain vigilant against potential reinforcements or hidden caches.

This incident marks another significant achievement in the ongoing campaign against left-wing extremism in the region. So far in 2025, troops from the 209 CoBRA unit a specialized CRPF commando battalion—have eliminated 20 hardcore Naxals, among them two Central Committee Members, two BJSAC Members, four Zonal Committee Members, two Sub-Zonal Committee Members, three Area Committee Members, and various other key cadres.

The operations have also yielded substantial hauls, including 32 sophisticated automatic weapons, 345 kilograms of explosives, 88 detonators, 2,500 rounds of live ammunition, and extensive war-like stores, severely disrupting the rebels’ logistical networks.

The encounter highlights the persistent challenges posed by Maoist activities in Jharkhand’s forested belts, where such groups have long sought to establish strongholds. Officials emphasized the coordinated intelligence and rapid response that enabled this success, vowing to sustain pressure on remaining networks to prevent resurgence.