Top Maoist commander Misir Besra trapped in Saranda, faces starvation

Jamshedpur: In a major breakthrough in anti-Naxal operations, security forces have reportedly cornered dreaded Maoist leader Misir Besra inside the dense Saranda Forest, leaving him in a desperate situation with no access to food or escape routes.

Besra, who carries a bounty of ₹1 crore, is believed to be trapped along with nearly 50 armed cadres within a tightly monitored zone in West Singhbhum district.

Security forces tighten grip

A joint operation involving the Central Reserve Police Force, its elite COBRA Battalion, and the Jharkhand Jaguars has established a strict 10-kilometre cordon around the Maoist squad.

All possible escape routes have been sealed, including key border points connecting Jharkhand with Odisha and Chhattisgarh. Security personnel have set up camps across strategic locations, gradually tightening the noose.

Battling hunger amid gunfire

Once considered a safe haven for Maoists, the Saranda forest has now turned into a trap for Besra and his associates. Reports indicate that the group has run out of food supplies, forcing some members to secretly approach nearby villages to beg for grains.

Intermittent exchanges of fire between Maoists and security forces continue in the forested terrain. The operation has been ongoing for several days, with tensions escalating following an IED blast two days ago that injured six security personnel.

No escape, surrender only option

Confined within a limited radius and cut off from external support, Besra is left with little room for manoeuvre. Officials suggest that surrender remains his only viable option to avoid death—either from continued encounters or starvation.

He is regarded as one of the last remaining senior commanders of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) who has neither been neutralised nor surrendered so far.

Family urges return to mainstream

In a significant emotional appeal, Besra’s family members have urged him to surrender and return to normal life. His son and younger brother have reportedly written letters asking him to lay down arms and rejoin society.

According to sources, his son, who works in South India, and his brother Devilal Besra, a para-teacher in Jharkhand, have not been in contact with him for decades but continue to appeal for his safe return.

Final phase of anti-Naxal campaign

The ongoing operation is being seen as a decisive moment in India’s fight against Left-wing extremism. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had earlier set a deadline to eliminate Naxalism from the country, and security forces have intensified operations across affected states.

With the cordon tightening and supplies cut off, officials believe the operation in Saranda could mark the final chapter in the long pursuit of one of India’s most wanted Maoist commanders.