Thursday’s dawn raid in Jharkhand’s impenetrable Saranda forests delivered a body blow to Naxalism, with 15 rebels killed—including the elusive Rs 1 crore bounty leader Patiram Manjhi alias Unal Da—in West Singhbhum’s biggest anti-Maoist operation ever.
The toll included three women: Anmol alias Sushant (BJSAC), Amit Munda (RCM), and others like Pintu Lohra, Laljit (Lalu), Rajesh Munda, Bulbul Alda, Babita, Purnima, Surajmuni, Jonga. These operatives, burdened with multi-state bounties and terror cases, operated under Unal Da’s Kolhan division for decades.
A strategic mastermind from Giridih, Unal boasted 149 FIRs and rewards exceeding Rs 2 crore collectively. His squad fueled 2022-onward violence via IEDs in Chaibasa and Saranda.
CRPF IG Saket Kumar Singh described Operation Medha Buru: At 6:30 AM, 209 Cobra units, Jharkhand Jaguars, CRPF, and police initiated searches near Kiriburu. Ambushed by armed Naxals, forces responded in self-defense across phased firefights.
The haul: 15 corpses, weapons arsenals, ammo, and gear. Experts predict ripple effects curbing Odisha-adjacent threats, leaving Jharkhand with 50-60 Naxals. Surrender calls intensify as search ops ramp up with extra forces.