"Happened for first time...": Jharkhand's top official after security forces eliminate 8 Naxals, including high-ranking CCM leader

Bokaro (Jharkhand) [India], April 22 (ANI): After eight Naxals were gunned down in an encounter in Jharkhand's Bokaro, highlighting the significance of the action, a top official stated that this happened for the first time in the history of Jharkhand that security forces have successfully eliminated a Naxal leader of Central Committee Member (CCM) rank, who carried a bounty of Rs 1 crore.
Addressing mediapersons, Sanjay Anandrao Lathkar, Additional Director General (ADG) of Police, Jharkhand, informed that the operation was started at around 5.30 am on Monday, in which eight naxals were neutralised and 14 weapons were recovered.
"Operation was started last night...around 5:30 am, security forces had a face-off with naxals and 8 naxals were killed in the encounter. 14 weapons were recovered through this operation...operation is still underway...this is the first time in the history of Jharkhand, security forces were successful in eliminating a naxal leader of CCM rank and with a bounty of Rs one crore..." the official said.
In a significant blow to Naxalism, three high-profile wanted leaders of the banned outfit, including one carrying a bounty of Rs 1 crore, among eight members, were neutralised on Monday in a joint operation in Jharkhand's Bokaro district.

Among the eight naxals neutralized in the operation were three high-profile individuals with bounties of Rs 1 crore, Rs 25 lakh, and Rs 10 lakh, respectively.
Prayag Manjhi alias Vivek had a bounty of Rs 1 crore, Arvind Yadav carried a reward of Rs 25 lakh, and Sahebram Manjhi, also known as Rahul Manjhi, had a bounty of Rs 10 lakh. The remaining naxals have been identified as Mahesh Manjhi alias Mota, Talu, Raju Manjhi, Gangaram, and Mahesh.
Prayag Manjhi (60) was the Central Committee Member (CCM) of the Eastern Regional Bureau of Naxals.
The bodies of the Naxals were recovered following an exchange of fire between the rebel group and the 209 Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (Cobra) unit of the Central Reserve Police Force and the state police force.
The exchange of fire began around 5.30 am in the Lugu hills under the Lalpania area of Bokaro.
As per the CRPF, the troops recovered a cache of arms from the site, including one AK-series rifle, one Self-Loading Rifle (SLR), three INSAS rifles, one pistol, and eight country-made Bharmar rifles.
"No injuries or casualties have been reported among the security personnel involved in the operation," the CRPF said in a statement.
"The gunfire has ceased, and a thorough search operation is currently underway in the area to ensure complete sanitisation and to trace any remaining insurgents or hidden weaponry," added the CRPF, India's largest Central Armed Police Force under the Ministry of Home Affairs, mandated to ensure internal security in its area of jurisdiction.
Officials said that the search was going on and the operation was part of an intensified campaign by security forces to dismantle Naxalite activities in the region.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised the security forces for the operation through a post on 'X' handle.
"Our march to eliminate Naxalism continues unabated. Today, security forces achieved another significant success in the ongoing operation to uproot Naxalism. In an encounter at Lugu Hills in Bokaro, Jharkhand, 8 Maoists were neutralised, including a top-level naxal leader, Vivek, who carried a reward of Rs 1 crore, and two other notorious Naxalites. The operation is being continued. Applaud our security forces," the Home Minister posted on 'X'.
The fresh operation resulted in the killing of a total of 93 Naxals neutralised this year so far in a joint operation involving the CRPF. In the last five years, from 2020 to 2024, a total of 178 Naxals have been neutralised in such joint operations in which the CRPF was involved. Of them, a maximum of 104 Naxals were neutralised in 2024, 15 in 2023, 12 in 2022, 15 in 2021, and 32 in 2020. The majority of the Naxals were neutralised in Chhattisgarh. (ANI)