Residents of Baihatu village in Kumardungi, West Singhbhum, are reeling from the gruesome patricide. The feud ignited between Satyawan Pan and his son Prakash when they clashed on where to erect their new family home. Tensions boiled over in their courtyard, transforming words into weapons.

Prakash seized a wooden stick and rained blows on his father without mercy. Satyawan collapsed, lifeless, as blood stained the ground where family bonds once stood.

Yashoda Devi, the stepmother who stepped in to de-escalate, became the next target. Badly hurt, she fought for her life and was admitted to Chaibasa Sadar Hospital in critical condition.

Kumardungi police responded promptly, taking custody of Satyawan’s body for autopsy and initiating raids to capture Prakash, who fled the scene. ‘Family disputes must not end in tragedy; we’re intensifying efforts to apprehend the accused,’ police assured.

The village buzzes with fear and fury, with locals drawing parallels to a similar axe murder in Ranchi’s Kazi Baru last year, where a son killed his father over liquor money. These recurring horrors underscore deep-rooted issues in rural family dynamics.

Experts call for community counseling programs to bridge generational gaps and prevent such irreversible acts. For now, justice remains elusive as Prakash evades capture, leaving a family shattered and a community on edge.

Sitting with the shattered family, the duo gathered intricate details of the tragedy that unfolded in the Kumaradungi police jurisdiction. Concern for the wounded survivor led them to inquire about hospital treatment, prompting immediate instructions for enhanced medical facilities.

The DC reassured the relatives that no stone would be left unturned in providing comprehensive assistance. A key focus was verifying entitlements under state welfare initiatives— from food security to pensions and early childhood education programs for the kids.

Departments received mandates to fast-track benefits, ensuring the family’s seamless integration into support systems. Meanwhile, the SP reviewed security protocols, stressing the need for airtight protection and promising swift, severe punishment for those responsible.

Such barbaric acts rooted in blind faith cannot persist, officials asserted, as the probe intensifies. The presence of additional administrative and law enforcement personnel highlighted the gravity with which the matter is being handled, aiming for justice and rehabilitation.

The neutralized militants comprised high-profile figures like Anmol (BJSAC), Amit Munda (RCM), Pintu Lohra, Laljit (Lalu), Rajesh Munda, Bulbul Alda, Babita, Purnima, Surajmuni, and Jonga. Wanted across Jharkhand, Odisha, and by NIA, they were part of Unal Da’s Central Committee squad terrorizing Kolhan for years.

Unal Da faced 149 cases, with bounties of Rs 1 crore (Jharkhand), Rs 1.2 crore (Odisha), and Rs 15 lakh (NIA). A Giridih native, he masterminded jungle ambushes and explosions plaguing Chaibasa since 2022.

IG Saket Kumar Singh of CRPF revealed that ‘Operation Medha Buru’ began at dawn with Cobra commandos, Jaguars, CRPF, and district police sweeping Kiriburu forests. Naxals unleashed indiscriminate fire, met with precise counterstrikes leading to their decimation.

Troops seized arms stockpiles, explosives, and provisions. The strike promises to dismantle Naxal networks bordering Odisha, slashing Jharkhand’s insurgent count to under 60. Police appeal for surrenders amid ongoing combing operations and bolstered deployments.

The Thursday clash involved elite CRPF units and state police, neutralizing Central Committee member Manjhi—carrying a Rs 1 crore reward—and associates like Bulbul Alda, Babita, and others with multi-state bounties. Three female Naxals were among the slain, disrupting a key squad operating in West Singhbhum’s Kolhan division.

Shah’s post emphasized the end of Naxal terror synonymous with fear for decades. He urged survivors: ‘Leave the path of violence, terror, and arms. Join the mainstream of development and trust.’ This comes amid accelerated counter-insurgency drives that have halved Naxal violence incidents nationwide.

CRPF IG Saket Kumar Singh detailed the recovery of weapons, highlighting the group’s involvement in numerous attacks across Jharkhand, Odisha, and beyond. Manjhi’s elimination severs a critical link in Maoist command structure, long evading capture in rugged terrains.

The operation underscores evolving tactics: real-time intel, drone surveillance, and inter-agency coordination. Parallelly, welfare schemes like tribal hostels and mobile health units are bridging gaps exploited by extremists. As surrenders rise, this encounter reinforces momentum, promising a secure tomorrow for Jharkhand’s forests and villages.

Reports indicate that Head Constable Kumar suddenly collapsed while on duty on Saturday. Fellow jawans quickly transported him to the Manoharpur Community Health Centre. Medical professionals examined him and declared him deceased. While preliminary assessments suggest cardiac arrest as the cause of death, the exact reasons will be confirmed after the post-mortem report is available.

Kumar was originally posted in Musabani, East Singhbhum district, but was currently deployed in the operation to make the Saranda forest Naxal-free. Colleagues described him as a dedicated officer who played an active role during the anti-Naxal operations.

The news of his untimely demise has sent waves of grief through the CRPF ranks. His comrades remember Rajesh Kumar as an honest, disciplined, and conscientious soldier, whose loss will be deeply felt by the battalion for a long time to come.

Following the incident on Friday, enraged villagers staged a protest, blocking the road with the deceased’s body for several hours and chanting slogans against the administration. Upon receiving information, police arrived at the scene and worked to restore order. Authorities have seized the tractor involved in the incident and sent the body for post-mortem examination to Chaibasa Sadar Hospital. As of now, no arrests have been made in connection with the case.

Jagannathpur Police Station in-charge, Avinash Kumar, stated that the tractor has been confiscated and a thorough investigation into the entire matter is underway. He clarified that while Deepak Pradhan was known to oppose illegal mining, his death occurred during an accident while attempting to stop the vehicle. Local residents allege that illegal sand mining and smuggling have been rampant in the area for a long time, with sand mafias continuing their operations undeterred by community opposition. Villagers have accused the police and mining department of negligence, emboldening the sand mafias. They are demanding immediate arrest and strict action against those responsible for the killing, along with a complete ban on illegal mining in the area.