49 Naxals Still Active in Jharkhand, ₹5.20 Crore Bounty Announced

 Jamshedpur: Despite sustained anti-insurgency operations, Jharkhand continues to have 49 active Naxals, according to the latest figures released by the state Police Headquarters. In a strong push to curb Left-Wing Extremism, the government has announced a total reward of ₹5.20 crore for information leading to their capture.

Officials stated that the list includes 42 members of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), along with operatives from other banned outfits such as the Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad, People’s Liberation Front of India, and Tritiya Prastuti Committee. The Police Headquarters has appealed to the public to share information, assuring that the identity of informants will be kept strictly confidential.

In a major development, East Singhbhum has been officially declared a Naxal-free district. However, security forces remain vigilant as nine absconding Naxals from the district are still at large. The Jamshedpur police continue intensive search operations, and properties of several accused have been attached in an effort to pressure them to surrender.

The number of wanted Naxals has declined from 58 earlier to 49 at present, indicating progress in ongoing operations. Notably, the names of nine individuals—including ‘Anal Da,’ who carried a reward of ₹1 crore—have been removed from the list, suggesting recent arrests, surrenders, or eliminations.

Among those still on the most-wanted list, rewards of ₹1 crore each have been announced for Asim Mandal, a Central Committee member associated with the Belpahari squad, and Misir Besra, a senior Politburo leader.

The Police Headquarters has also announced rewards of ₹15 lakh each for Ram Prasad Mardi alias Sachin, Madan Mahto, and Bela Sarkar. A reward of ₹10 lakh has been declared for Pushpa Mahto alias Shakuntala, while amounts ranging from ₹2 lakh to ₹5 lakh have been set for several other operatives.

Authorities said that while the reduction in numbers reflects progress, the continued presence of armed extremists highlights the need for sustained vigilance. The state government has reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating the remaining Naxal network and ensuring long-term peace and security.