17 Naxalites killed in five months, only five districts remain affected
Mail News Service
Ranchi, May 24: The fight against Naxalism in Jharkhand has reached a decisive phase, with security forces achieving major breakthroughs in recent months. In a coordinated crackdown by the CRPF and Jharkhand Police, 17 Naxalites have been killed in separate encounters across the state in the last five months, marking the highest success in the past five years.
Among those neutralized were high-profile Naxalite leaders, including one carrying a bounty of Rs 1 crore, another with Rs 25 lakh, one with Rs 15 lakh, and two others with Rs 10 lakh each. This year’s operations mark the most effective action by security forces since 2020, when 18 Naxalites were killed.
A year-wise data marks the number of Naxalites eliminated in encounters. These figures include 2020: 18 Naxalites killed, 2021: 8, 2022: 12, 2023: 14, 2024: 11 and till May, 2025, 17.
However, these successes have come at a cost, with 20 security personnel martyred over the last five years.
The state’s Naxalite problem has now been reduced by 95%, with only five districts—Giridih, Gumla, Latehar, Lohardaga, and West Singhbhum—still affected. Notably, West Singhbhum is the only Jharkhand district still classified among the 12 most Naxal-affected districts across five Indian states.
Though large-scale Naxal operations have diminished, remnants of these groups continue to operate in smaller factions, using tactics such as arson and extortion via WhatsApp calls to intimidate local businesses.
Key Encounters that took place in 2025 include 24 May (Latehar): JJMP chief Pappu Lohara (Rs 10 lakh bounty) and Prabhat Ganjhu (Rs 5 lakh) killed; 21 April (Bokaro): 8 Maoists, including top commander Prayag Manjhi alias Vivek (Rs 1 crore bounty), killed at Lugu Hills; 29 January (Chaibasa): Two Naxalites, Vinay Ganjhu alias Sanjay Ganjhu (CPI-M Zonal Committee member) and Hemanti Manjhiyain (Area Committee member), neutralized; 22 January (Bokaro): Two Maoists—Manoj Baski and Shanti Devi, wife of a Rs 15 lakh-bounty Naxalite—killed in action.
The ongoing operations indicate a strong commitment by the state and central forces to completely eliminate Naxalite influence from Jharkhand.
