In a major blow to the outlawed Maoist organizations, security forces in Jharkhand have successfully eliminated 16 Naxals during an intense firefight in West Singhbhum. The battle occurred in the notorious Saranda forest range, specifically in the Kumdi locality. Acting on specific leads regarding extremist movement, a joint operation was executed by local police units and specialized paramilitary teams. The encounter resulted in heavy losses for the insurgents, with 16 bodies reportedly identified following the initial search. Among those killed is a rewarded extremist leader whose death is expected to cripple the local organizational structure of the group. The operation underscores the intensifying efforts by the state and central forces to eradicate insurgency from the mineral-rich tribal belts of Jharkhand. Search operations are still underway to ensure no remnants of the group remain in the vicinity, while forensic teams have been called to assist in the identification process of the deceased rebels.
