Day after Chhattisgarh operation, 2 Naxals killed in Jharkhand

A day after 14 Naxals were killed on the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border, two suspected Naxals, including a woman, were shot in Bokaro by a joint team of the Jharkhand Police and 209 CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) during a search operation on Wednesday.

Preliminary investigations have identified the slain Naxals as Shanti (area commander) of Chatro village, Giridih district, and Manoj of Dhavatar village, Giridih, which is being further verified. Security personnel have intensified anti-Naxal operations in Jharkhand for the past few days, sources said.

The operation was launched based on a tip-off from the Intelligence Bureau. An AK-47 rifle and two Insas rifles were recovered during the operation.

On Tuesday, during an operation in West Singhbhum district, security personnel recovered more than 20 country-made IEDs and more than 50 gelatin sticks from the forest. A police officer said these IEDs were planted by suspected members of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) to target security personnel engaged in anti-Naxal operations.

The district police have been conducting extensive search operations for the past few months after receiving information about the presence of top Maoist leaders in the Kolhan region of West Singhbhum.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday that Naxalism is taking its last breath due to the Centre’s resolve of a Naxal-free India and the combined efforts of security forces.