Eluding 3,000 Security Troops, Bounty-Hued Naxalite Misir Besra Escapes From Saranda to Kolhan Forest

Jamshedpur: In a significant tactical setback for security forces, Misir Besra—a top-tier Maoist commander carrying a massive ₹1 crore bounty—has successfully breached a heavy security dragnet of over 3,000 personnel. According to intelligence reports, Besra managed to escape the heavily fortified Saranda forest and has successfully relocated to the dense jungles of Kolhan, covering a distance of nearly 40 kilometers.

A Strategic Failure of the Security Net

Security agencies had previously managed to isolate and restrict Besra and his core group to a specific triangular border zone encompassing Goilkera, Jeraikela, and Kiriburu along the Jharkhand-Odisha border. However, exploiting a strategic lapse and leveraging the cover of darkness, Besra’s network splintered into smaller, elusive units to bypass the security cordon.

Key Highlights of the Breakthrough

• The Escape Route: Misir Besra moved 40 km away from his known location in Jeraikela to the Kolhan forest. His core team, including high-profile Maoist Ajay Mahato, is believed to have shifted base with him.
• Divided Network: To avoid mass detection, the Naxalite network has splintered into three distinct groups. The first is Besra’s core unit; the second consists of 10 to 15 Naxalites moving in small batches across the Saranda-Odisha border; and the third group is reportedly taking refuge in the Podahat jungles.
• Reasons for Relocation: Intelligence suggests that a fractured logistical supply chain, the destruction of major base camps by security forces, and a continuously shrinking operational area forced the Maoist leadership to abandon their long-held positions in Saranda.

Ongoing Operations Near the Odisha Border

Despite the slip, a massive joint operation by state police and central forces (including Jharkhand Jaguar) remains underway, stretching from the Odisha-bordering Saranda region all the way to the Dalma area.

Security forces are utilizing advanced drone surveillance and ground intelligence to tighten the perimeter. Amit Renu, SP Chaibasa, noted that the Naxalites are running out of options, stating: “The Naxalites have now been reduced to a countable few. The area of operation has been expanded… With heavy rains approaching, their difficulties will only multiply, leaving surrender as their only viable option.”

Authorities remain on high alert as combing operations intensify in the Kolhan and Podahat sectors to track down the escaped commander.