Jharkhand Timeline 2017

Date

Incidents

January 2

Several Naxal groups in Jharkhand were reported to have incurred losses to the tune of INR 800 million said a top Police officer at Ranchi District. The Naxal groups are desperate ever since the Narendra Modi-led Government had decided to demonetize INR 500 and 1000 currency notes from the midnight of November 8, 2016, which had an adverse impact on the activities of Naxal groups in the State, said the ADG, Jharkhand, R K Mallick. Quoting an intelligence report, he added, at least INR 800 million cash of the Naxal groups has thus been destroyed due to demonetisation. The Naxal outfits have weakened as their major economic system was destroyed post-demonetisation, which prompted the Naxals to indulge in looting cash in desperation, going against the Maoist ideology, Mallick claimed. However, the State Police was prepared to foil all their nefarious design, he said.

A CPI-Maoist 'area commander' carrying a reward of INR 1.5 million on his head and wanted in three States was shot dead in an encounter with Police and CRPF at the Ramtandi forest under Ghorabandha Police Station in Ghatshila sub-division of East Singhbhum District. Supai Tudu, an 'area commander' of a faction of the CPI-Maoist, was found dead after an exchange of fire between security personnel and the Maoists. Tudu's wife, Sonali Tudu, was arrested at the site after the incident.

Two members of New SPM were allegedly killed by the CPI-Maoist cadres at Pathal village in Chatra District. The bodies were found near the Gaya-Chatra border and the two men, identified as Sanjay Singh Bhokta and Vijay Singh Bhokta, who were abducted from their house. Chatra, SP, Anjani Jha said that a CPI-Maoist poster, in which the murderers claim to represent the banned LWE faction, was found on the site of the incident. A total of four shots were fired, two on each of the victims, Jha added. Jha said, "It has been verified that one of the victims, Sanjay Singh, was an active member of New SPM and was involved in activities which might have led to a fight with the Maoists." Sources indicate that the New SPM group recently started as an offshoot of the CPI-Maoist and have been growingly active in the last few days.

Five Naxals were arrested with arms and ammunition from Gumla and Garhwa Districts. Two cadres of the PLFI were arrested from Palkot in Gumla District while three cadres of the TPC were arrested in Ranka, Garhwa District. A country made gun, bullets and mobile phones were found on PLFI cadres Vinay Gope and Ravi Gope while Police recovered 25 kilograms explosive from TPC cadres Rajesh Yadav and his aides Sunil Singh Kharwar and Mehboob Alam. Gumla SP, Chandan Kumar Jha said Vinay and Ravi had demanded INR 300,000 levy from a petrol bunk owner on December 30, 2016. In Garhwa, Police first arrested Rajesh. During interrogation, he revealed about his aides who were arrested from Ramkanda village. Police seized mobile phones, pamphlets and posters. TPC and PLFI are splinter groups of the CPI-Maoist.

The UMHA flagged the operational efficiency of SFs in the Naxal-affected areas as one of its biggest achievements during a presentation before PM Narendra Modi. The Ministry informed Modi that since the NDA Government came to power in May 2014, there had been a 45 per cent increase in the efficiency of Central Forces (CFs) in operations against the Naxals. In a presentation made by Home Secretary, Rajiv Mehrishi, Modi and other officials were informed that the number of Naxal cadres killed in 2016 had been the highest ever in six years. Eighty-Four cadres of the CPI-Maoist were killed in 2015 and in 2016, the number swelled to 218, which was an increase of 160 per cent. There was also an increase in the number of Police encounter from 237 in 2015 to 316 in 2016. UHM Rajnath Singh told in a press conference earlier this week that demonetization had increased the problems of CPI-Maoist and that they had weakened. The EFC has already given the go-ahead for an ambitious road project in the 44 worst Naxal-affected Districts. Under this project, the Government proposes to construct 5,412 km of roads and 126 bridges and it would cost INR 117.25 million. The Government is redrawing the 'Red Corridor' - the area affected by LWE - and may soon take off 20 Districts from the list of Naxal-affected areas. The 106 Districts which span 10 States - Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh - constitute the Red Corridor. Of these, 44 Districts are said to be the worst affected. India has a total of 683 Districts.

Suspected cadres of the CPI-Maoist set ablaze three construction vehicles at Ruam village near Chaibasa in East Singhbhum District. The attack was a reaction to the construction company's failure in paying levy. The damaged vehicles included two bulldozers and a mixer owned by RKS constructions. SP, Anish Gupta said, "We are tracing the rebels involved in the incident. The construction of this road, which had begun in 2014, has suffered repeated setbacks due to Maoist activities. Last year, Maoists had burnt vehicles involved in the construction of the same road after the company refused to pay levy."

Khunti Police conducted an operation, led by SP, Ashwini Jha, at Kuisar village forest in Khunti District. Police had got a tip-off about a meeting of the PLFI in the forest, 25 kilometres from Khunti. Three country-made carbines, one regular carbine, two double barrel breach loading guns, three magazines and two haversacks were seized in the raid. Jha said, "We reached the location at 3:30 am and discovered a rebel camp. However, the rebels escaped by the time we reached the camp. We chased them for half a kilometer but failed to catch them. Maoists Jidan Gudiya, Prabhu Sahai Bodra, Bagrai Champiya, Pattu Naag and others were among those who fled.'' PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

Maoist 'zonal commander' Dimba Pahan (58), who carried INR 1.5 million reward on his head, surrendered before Khunti SP, Ashwini Kumar Sinha at his office. A native of Barigarha village in Arki area of Khunti, Dimba joined the Maoists in 1998. He was involved in several cases of Ranchi, Khunti, Saraikela-Kharsawan and West Singhbhum Districts, including the killing of former Tamar MLA, Ramesh Singh Munda, Bundu DSP, Pramod Kumar Gupta and special branch inspector Francis Indewar. He also robbed an ICICI Bank cash van of over INR 50.7 million and 1.2 kilograms gold in May, 2008.

East Singhbhum District Police have intensified search operations at Ghurabandha and Dumaria in Ghatshila and deployed SFs along NH-33 in wake of a bandh call by Maoists on January 10 to protest killing of Supaye Tuddu on January 3.

The Jharkhand Police are now concentrating their offensive on the CPI-Maoist 'area commander' Kanhu Munda in East Singhbhum District. To revive people's confidence in the administration, Police have decided to hold a crime meeting at Gian village in Ghatshila subdivision. East Singhbhum Rural SP, Shailendra Burnwal said they had chosen Naxal-hit Gian for the meeting because Kanhu Munda hailed from the village. He added, "We are already carrying out anti-insurgency operations in Ghurabandha and Gian. The crime meeting at Kanhu Munda's village will surely make a difference among people who may have been associated with the Naxalites because they are petrified of Munda". Police sources said there were four to five armed naxals in Munda's squad. "We are working on a plan in which villagers will no longer co-operate with the CPI-Maoist like they have been doing so far," SP Burnwal said. Munda's squad is active in the Ghurabandha region, which shares border with Mayurbhanj District of Odisha. Police will also hold a janata durbar for villagers of Gian. "At the durbar, local problems - including the ones that have cropped up owing to Naxalite activities - will be heard and resolved, if possible," the SP said.

UHM Rajnath Singh held a review meeting on Naxalism situation in Jharkhand with senior Police officials of CRPF and the State Police at Eastern Sector Headquarters of CRPF in Ranchi District. A senior Police official told, "A demand was raised before the UMHA to increase the strength of SFs in the state to carry out anti-Naxal operations in the state, replying to which, he said that the demand will be taken up only after UP Election." The State Police also requested the UHM to recommence the fund allocation for setting up of STF against terrorism which has been discontinued for quite some time. With security advisor K Vijay Kumar and CM Raghubar Das in tow, Singh claimed that the Centre's demonetization move has broken the backs of banned LWE organizations like PLFI and CPI-Maoist. Maintaining that dialogue was the only means to resolve differences, the minister urged armed groups to come to the discussion table and place their demands instead of 'stopping the development of the poor'. Singh, who inaugurated the Eastern Sector Headquarters of CISF in the state capital, said increasing the 'technological and core competence' of the forces is the need of the hour. The new Eastern Sector Headquarters in Ranchi's Tiril spreads over 158 acres. This new headquarters has been relocated from Bihar for better synergy, CISF Director General OP Singh said.

Cadres of the PLFI attacked workers and set ablaze equipment at a pipeline laying site of IOC in Khunti District. PLFI is a splinter group the CPI-Maoist. Armed PLFI cadres arrived at the site near Karo River on Tapkara-Rania Road under Tapkarao outpost late last night, beat up some labourers and set the equipment on fire. Two tractors, a dumper, an earth moving machine, two generator sets and a jointer machine used by a Bengaluru-based company hired by IOC were set ablaze. SFs have launched a search operation to track down the Naxals. DGP, D K Pandey directed the Police to provide security to ensure completion of the work as well as other development works in Naxal-affected areas after he had a meeting with the District Armed Police, CRPF and Intelligence officials. Pandey said that Naxal and extremist activities would be wiped out from the state in 2017.

Five Naxals from different outfits were arrested along with arms and ammunition from Palamau and Garhwa Districts. Umesh Paswan and Shyamdeo Singh Kharwar, and TPC-II member Satyendra Singh were arrested from different parts of Palamau. Shiv Kumar Korba and Mukhdeo Choudhary were arrested from Ramkanda area in Garhwa. TPC is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist while TPC-II, a splinter group of TPC. SFs have recovered a country made pistol, cartridges, five sets of camouflaged uniforms, mobile phones, TPC pamphlets and a motorcycle from their possession.

Naxals belonging to JSJMM attacked a road construction site in Bharno, Gumla District.

The 'group commander', Abhay, of the TPC, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, was killed in an encounter under Chainpur Police station area of Palamu District. The encounter took place between the team from Garhwa Police, along with a contingent of the JAP. SFs have recovered two rifles, cartridges, batteries, their chargers, blankets and other materials.

Three cadres of the (PLFI, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, who were part of the group that set ablaze heavy machinery engaged in IOC's Paradip-Ranchi-Raipur underground pipeline project on January 10, were arrested from Murhu area of Khunti District. The trio has been identified as Dinesh Gudiya - brother of PLFI 'zonal commander' Jeedan Gudiya - Sunil Nag and Batu Kachchhap. PLFI pamphlets and jerry cans, used for carrying fuel like petrol or kerosene oil, were also recovered from them.

Six SF personnel were injured in an IED blast in Burha Pahari area of Latehar District. The blast took place during an encounter with the cadres of the CPI-Maoist. Officials said that three explosions took place first around 5:30 AM, then another took place around 10 AM and then again at 1 PM. Two Assistant Commandants of CRPF, one head constable and two SIs and a Jharkhand Police jawan were injured.

One Naxalite, identified as Mahendra Manjhi, was arrested in a major anti-Naxal operation carried by the 26th CRPF and local Police in Lugu-pahari forest area in Gomia block in Bokaro District. The CRPF also seized large quantity of fire arms, including a rifle of .315, with one magazine, three .315 cartridges and five 303 cartridges from him. Mahendra was a close associate of Santosh Mahto group. However, no loss of life reported and no Policemen were injured in the operation, said ASP, Sanjay Kumar (Operations).

Two villagers were killed by the CPI-Maoist cadres at Taringa village under Goeilkera Thana area in West Singhbhum District. The victims were identified as Suresh Bhuiyan (25) and Jiten Lomga (15). No reason was cited by West Singhbhum District Police for the killings.

CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze three vehicles involved in road construction work in West Singhbhum District. According to Police, the Maoists raided camp of a construction company at Roam village situated under Guwa Police Station and set the three vehicles on fire.

Jharkhand's DGP, D K Pandey asked CPI-Maoist cadres to either surrender or get ready to face the bullets of the SFs in Palamu District. The DGP directed to establish a Police picket in Mahudanad of Hussainabad.

A handler of a sniffer dog, PK Samal, was injured and 'Aminika', a sniffer dog belonging to CoBRA battalion, was killed in an IED blast by CPI-Maoist cadres in Buda Pahar area in Latehar District.

A handler of a sniffer dog, PK Samal, was injured and 'Aminika', a sniffer dog belonging to CoBRA battalion, was killed in an IED blast by CPI-Maoist cadres in Buda Pahar area in Latehar District.

SFs laid a trap and arrested a Maoist supporter and three employees of Bauxite mining company from Bishunpur area in Gumla District. SFs have seized INR 0.299 million cash, an SUV and a motorcycle from them. The Gumla SDPO, Bhupendra Rawat, added, "Upon frisking them, we recovered 149 currency notes of INR 2,000 denomination and two new notes of INR 500 denomination. During interrogation, they admitted that the cash was actually meant for Maoist 'zonal commander' Nakul Yadav and his next in command Madan Yadav."

Around 15-20 armed rebels of the PLFI, a splinter group of a CPI-Maoist, set ablaze vehicles at the construction site near Latrtu Dam in Khunti District. The rebels set ablaze one dumper, two tractors, two bikes and two generator sets.

An 'area commander' of the PLFI, identified as Ruben Kerketta and a CPI-Maoist operative Ladu Munda surrendered in Khunti District. Kerketta was carrying a reward of INR 200,000 and Munda was carrying a reward of INR 50,000 on their head.

Khunti SP, Shwini Jha held a meeting at his office in Khunti District of Jharkhand to plan out a strategy to monitor the rising activities of CPI-Maoist cadres and its splinter groups in Khunti, Simdega, Gumla and other Districts of Jharkhand.

SFs recovered 50 Kilograms of IED below a small bridge in the rural road of Gomia Block in Bokaro District. SFs launched a search operation at Chitu, Bankheta, Banchatra, Barokocha and Bhochukdiha villages within the limits of Gomia Police Station area. DIG, Saket Kumar Singh said the raids would continue in Jhumra. He added, "The recovered IED was diffused later. Frequent recovery of landmines and explosives in that area helps Police foil the attempts of the CPI-Maoist cadres who were looking for triggering any untoward incident there "said Singh.

Two cadres of the PLFI, identified as Fagua Singh and Turtan Guria, were arrested at Bano in Simdega District. PLFI is a splinter group of a CPI-Maoist.

Ranchi Police arrested Yamuna Prasad a member of PLFI, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, at Bero Block in Ranchi District of Jharkhand. Prasad was a close aide of PLFI chief Dinesh Gope. A Policeman told, "On several occasions, Yamuna had accommodated Gope's black money in different bank accounts and channelised the cash by investing in business ventures."

Palamu Police arrested Chhotan Yadav a CPI-Maoist cadre in Mohammadganj near Bheem Barrage at Kadal in Ranchi District. Chhotan Yadav used to perform varied works for Ajay Yadav (a top CPI-Maoist) like moving in his data, writing Maoists Parchha poster and literature and IEDs. Yadav has three cases and the cases are in 2 Police Stations Pandu and Mohammadganj.

Thakur Das Mahto (35), a contractor for Brajesh Construction Company, was killed by CPI-Maoist cadres in Ramgarh District. His body, riddled with bullets and the throat slit, was found dumped on Rajrappa-Murpa Road. Local residents protested at Gola Police Station. The pamphlets were found near the body say that Mahto was killed because he was a 'Police informer'. SFs arrested four cadres of the PLFI from Karra in Khunti District. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

West Singhbhum District Police has constituted a committee to probe the alleged death of CPI-Maoist Politburo member Prashant Bose alias Kisan da in Saranda forest on the Jharkhand-Odisha border

Two cadres of the PLF, Manish Dahenga alias Rejan Dahenga and a minor boy were arrested on the outskirts of Khunti District. Police also seized INR 48,000 in cash and seven mobile phones from the duo. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

CM, Raghubar Das in his Republic Day address said, innocent tribals were being misled by vested interests, in Naxal affected Dumka District. He also pointed out that Jharkhand Government has allotted a separate budget for development of SC and ST, and 2 per cent reservation in State and District level vacancies, a Police battalion and 18 health centres for particularly vulnerable tribal groups in Jharkhand.

Jharkhand Police will initiate proceedings to seek custody of CPI -Maoist leader Ranjit Pal who, along with his wife, surrendered before West Bengal Police. Pal, a member of the Bengal-Jharkhand-Orissa border committee of CPI-Maoist, is wanted in the murder of JMM leader and then East Singhbhum in Jharkhand, MP, Sunil Mahato in 2007.

Khunti District Police arrested two contractors, identified as Dinesh Kumar Nag and Khuleshwar Gope, for having financial ties with PLFI, Chief Dinesh Gope and assisting the group's terror activities in Khunti District, reports Times of India. According to Police, PLFI funded INR 8.5 millions in six construction projects of Nag and Gope and were supposed to receive 50% of the total profits in return. PLFI is a splinter group of CPI-Maoist.

Simdega Police airdropped pamphlets and posters with names and bounty on top functionaries of the PLFI cadres hiding in remote areas of Simdega District. The pamphlets carried names of PLFI's top commanders, including its supremo, Dinesh Gope, who carries a bounty of INR 2.5 millions on his head.

The Police recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunitions from a Naxal hideout in Latehar District. A SLR, three made in America semi-automatic rifle, two country-made rifles and at least 81 live cartridges were among the arms and ammunitions that were recovered. The Police are probing the matter and have not arrested any person in this regard so far.

Khunti Police arrested three cadres of the PLFI at Birsa Chowk in Ranchi. PLFI is a splinter group of CPI-Maoist. The identity of the arrestees is yet to be ascertained

SFs recovered arms and ammunition dumped by CPI-Maoist cadres from Dangrapahar of Ghatshila in East Singhbhum District. SSP, Anoop T. Mathew told that a joint team of SFs conducted search in four dumping areas and recovered a SLR, one 303 rifle, both looted from SFs, an improvised Musket along with 50 rounds of live ammunition, electronic items and explosives for preparing IED, CPI-Maoist flags and literature, multi-circuit meter, uniforms and daily core items. A book titled "Mamata Bandopadhyay ke Jemon Dekhechi" authored by one Deepak Kumar Ghosh was also recovered.

The CPI-Maoist cadres exploded a crude bomb in the Amrapali Open Cast Project of CCL under Tandwa Police Station of Chatra District. Three personnel have been reported to be injured in the blast. Police have recovered hand-written pamphlets which talks about stopping work in Amrapali and its adjacent mine, Magadh. The newly raised SISF will be deployed at the CCL's Amrapali coal project.

The CRPF personnel of 26th Battalion distributed a solar light system at Daribagh Tola in Gomia Block of Naxals affected Bokaro District.

One Munna Singh alias Munna Ganjhu and his friend Murari Sharma were killed by unidentified men in Kunda area of Chatra District. Police suspect hand of TPC, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

A CPI-Maoist cadre, Dhiraj Singh, was arrested from Jobang in Lohardaga District.

An armed group of JJJMP cadres attacked heavy machinery and vehicles near CCL's Sikni colliery in Latehar District.

JJMP is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist. Gurubari Munda (32), a member of Munda squad of the CPI-Maoist was arrested by SFs at Bhakar forests in Ghurabandha block of Ghatshila in East Singhbhum District

A PLFI cadre, Arvind Gope, was arrested at Sirka village in Murhu Tehsil of Khunti. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

Two Police constables from Raigad have arrested a CPI-Maoist cadre, Biljaram Buddharam (40), from Dali village, in Palamu District of Jharkhand and brought to Mumbai in Maharashtra by train.

A villager, Birwal Murmu (25), was killed by the CPI-Maoist cadres in Virangatta village under the Madhuwan Police Station in Giridih District. The Maoists accused him of being a 'Police informer.'

Two persons, identified as Subash Agarwal and Shyam Sunder, were killed and two others injured by CPI-Maoist cadres gunfire near Ramanitard in Bhelwaghati Panchayat at Giridih District. Sources said that these armed cadres are from Maoist leader Surang Yadav's group. The reason of the killing is not yet clear but Maoists were afraid of growing popularity of the Government schemes and in anguish they were taking such steps, SP Giridih, Akhlesh V Varier said.

Two persons, identified as Subash Agarwal and Shyam Sunder, were killed and two others injured by CPI-Maoist cadres gunfire near Ramanitard in Bhelwaghati Panchayat at Giridih District. Sources said that these armed cadres are from Maoist leader Surang Yadav's group. The reason of the killing is not yet clear but Maoists were afraid of growing popularity of the Government schemes and in anguish they were taking such steps, SP Giridih, Akhlesh V Varier said.

A female 'area commander' of the CPI-Maoist, Kaushalia Kumari alias Sabita, was arrested by the District Armed Police and CRPF from Tansia village in Seraikela-Kharsawan District. She was carrying a reward of INR 200,000 on her head.

East Singhbhum District Police has intensified anti-Naxal operation in the Naxal-hit Ghatsila Sub-division in order to mount pressure on the top CPI-Maoist leader Kanhu Munda-led squad to surrender, which operates in the bordering areas of Jharkhand-Bengal-Odisha, reports Business Standard. Kanhu, a 'zonal secretary' of Jharkhand-Bengal-Odisha outfit, is carrying a reward of INR 2,500,000 lakh on his head.

A 'Zonal Secretary' of Jharkhand-Bengal-Odisha Zone, of CPI-Maoist and six other Maoist cadres surrendered at East Singhbhum District. The Maoists, including a woman, laid their arms before SSP of East Singhbhum District Police, Anoop T Mathew in Kanhu's native village Jiyan under Ghurabandha Police Station area in Ghatshila sub-division. Kanhu Munda alias Mangal Ji, 'Zonal Secretary' and his aide Fogra Munda, were carrying rewards of INR 2.5 millions and INR 1 millions on their heads respectively. Kanhu and Fogra were wanted in a number of Naxal -related incidents including murder of Police Inspector, Sushil Nag and three others in Singhpura under Ghurabandha Police Station area in 2006. Apart from them, Chunnu Munda, Bhoglu Singh Munda, Jiten Munda, Shankar and Kajal, a woman Maoist, were among those who surrendered. The surrendering Maoists also deposited one INSAS and two pistols.

SFs engaged in anti-Naxalite operation arrested 'area commander' Upendra Yadav (35) and Ajit Yadav (25), a cadre, of TPC from two different places in Ranka Police Station area of Garhwa District. Two bikes and cell phones were recovered from Upendra and Ajit. TPC is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

SFs have planned a new strategy to nail down rest of the Naxals along the Bengal-Jharkhand border. A number of Naxal squads have also become active in Banspahari and Simulpal in West Midnapore of West Bengal. Joint forces are expected to raid both places when operations begin. Sources informed that the high alert has been sounded after intelligence report that the Maoists may attack at Naxal areas of Ghatshila and Patamda in East Singhbhum District.

One Munna Yadav (28), brother of Naxal outfit JPC, 'sub zonal commander' Dasrath, was arrested near Panch Mandir Chowk in Hazaribagh District. SFs recovered INR 250,000 from him, which was extorted from a company constructing Tandwa-Simaria road, and two mobile phones.

Four persons were arrested and huge quantity of explosives recovered from Shikaripara area in Dumka District. Mithun Sheikh, Latiful Sheikh, Afzal Ansari and Md Ansari were carrying illegally 3,000 electric detonators, 400 neo gel sticks and 21 kilogram of ammonium nitrate in a pick-up truck, when they were intercepted by the Police.

District Police arrested Hiralal Kherwar and Veerendra Kherwar during a search operation in Naxal-hit areas of Lohardaga District. Police recovered wire used for making IED, Codex wire, Ammonium Nitrate and other materials.

Jharkhand DGP, D K Pandey, said Naxals activity in Parasnath hills in Giridih District of Jharkhand. He said the state administration is serious about the security arrangement in Bhelwaghati situated on the Jharkhand -Bihar border of the District.

Five suspected cadres of the TPC, a breakaway faction of the CPI-Maoist, were arrested from Ranchi District. City SP, Kaushal Kishore said two of them, Rajesh Ganjhu and Pradeep Kesri, have been identified to be squad members of the outfit, while the others - Rohit Kesri, Jairam Bhuinya and Mahesh Mahato - are their supporters. "One country-made pistol and three live cartridges have been seized from their possession and the Kotwali police are interrogating them for further details," the SP said.

A 207th CoBRA jawan of West Bengal, identified as Om Prakash (32), was seriously injured in an encounter with the CPI-Maoist cadres at a hill near Basadera village under Ghatshila Police Station area in East Singhbhum District.

Manoj Kumar Mahto, a JCB driver, who was abducted by Naxals from Hazaribagh District on February 26. Mahto was released today.

Naxals of JTG set ablaze three vehicles involved in bridge construction work in Chatra District. Anjani Kumar Jha, Chatra, SP, said, "The group left a poster at the spot, taking responsibility for the arson. They want to threaten contractors who do not pay levy to them."

CPI-Maoist cadres launched a poster campaign in Latehar District to refute allegations of their involvement in promoting poppy cultivation. The posters have been pasted in Bandhua and Palheya village under Manika Police Station of Latehar District.

Lohardaga and Latehar Police, along with CRPF and Jharkhand Jaguar, busted hideouts of the CPI-Maoist commanders Ravindra Gonjhu and Muneshwar Gonjhu, at Kisko Police station in Lohardaga District. SFs recovered three powerful cylinder bombs, besides a 20-metre codex wire, planted along a road.

Khunti Police arrested a PLFI cadre Kanho Bodra from Tapkara Bazaar of Khunti District. Bodra was earlier associated with PLFI 'area commanders' Dakwal Purti and Sanika Purti, who were gunned down in August 2015 during an encounter in Arki. Bodra is wanted in nearly five cases, including injuring cops in landmine blasts, abduction and murder. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

Lohardaga and Latehar Police, along with the CRPF and Jharkhand Jaguar, busted hideouts of the CPI-Maoist, 'commanders' Ravindra Gonjhu and Muneshwar Gonjhu, at Kisko Police Station in Lohardaga District. SFs recovered three powerful cylinder bombs, besides a 20-metre codex wire, planted along a road.

Khunti Police arrested a PLFI cadre, identified as Kanho Bodra, from Tapkara Bazaar of Khunti District. Bodra was earlier associated with PLFI 'area commanders' Dakwal Purti and Sanika Purti, who were gunned down in August 2015 during an encounter in Arki. Bodra is wanted in nearly five cases, including injuring Policemen in landmine blasts, abduction and murder. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

Under the scheme of NFADP, East Singhbhum District administration will be organising a Vikas Mela at Jualkanta in Ghurabandha Police Station area in Ghatshila sub-division on March 15. The Police and Paramilitary Forces are carrying out anti-insurgency operation in places bordering West Bengal's Purulia District and Odisha's Mayurbhanj District in order to make the fair a success. SP, Shailendra Kumar Burnwal told, that after the surrender of top naxal leaders in February, the remaining naxals operating in the area have united. The idea to launch the operation is to force them to shun path of violence.

Four cadres of the PLFI were arrested by the Police in two separate incidents in Khunti and West Singhbhum District. PLFI is a splinter group of CPI-Maoist. In the first incident, three PLFI cadres, including a woman, Nirmala Kandulana, Jagai Pahan and Karam Singh Munda, were arrested when they came to collect 'levy' at Bhagat Singh Chowk in Khunti District of Jharkhand. In other incident, Police arrested PLFI cadre Rugu Gudia under Tebo Police Station limits in West Singhbhum District of Jharkhand. Police recovered two double barrel gun and 46 live cartridges from the spot of arrest.

Naxals blew up the house of a para-teacher and held a 'Jan Adalat' at Baltharwa village atop Jhumra Hill under Mahuataad Police Station in Bokaro District. At least 30 Naxals pasted posters across the village, branding the teacher Jailal Mahto as a 'Police informer'. Mahto was not present at his residence at the time of the explosion. Naxals assaulted his wife Bijli Devi (27) and his father Moti Mahto. The group then blew up Mahto's house. Villagers in Baltharwa remained angry with the Police for not visiting the spot more than 24 hours after the incident

Two TPC armed 'squad commanders', Rajesh Ganju and Hiralal Ganjhu, were arrested by Jharkhand Police and the CRPF in Chatra District. SFs recovered a US-made rifle and a carbine, seven other firearms, 450 cartridges, four mobile phones, six magazines and INR 56,000. TPC is a splinter group of CPI-Maoist.

Mohan Murmu and Sundar Soren of Ghurabandha squad of the CPI-Maoist surrendered before the District administration in Jwalkata village under Ghurabandha Police Station area at Ghatshila sub-division in East Singhbhum District. They were aides of Kanu Munda, who is the former 'secretary' of JBORC of CPI -Maoist.

Armed cadres of CPI-Maoist killed, Jotra Lohra (55), labelling him as a 'Police informer' in Gumla District. CPI-Maoist cadres left a note proclaiming that Lohra was punished for being a 'Police informer'. However, SP, Gumla District, Chandan Kumar Jha said: "Lohra was in no way associated with the police. He was a common man who eked out a living by working as a farm labourer. We are combing the nearby areas to nab the culprits."

Armed cadres of CPI-Maoist blew up the two-room house of a para teacher, Beerbal Ram, at Gowasarey village under Pandu Police Station, 52 Kilometers from Daltonganj in Palamu District. Nobody was injured in the incident. SP, Palamu District, Indrajeet Mahatha said, "The Maoists suspect this para-teacher to be a sympathizer of a rival outfit TPC and we believe this was the reason behind this attack on his home." TPC is a splinter group of CPI-Maoist.

A group of CPI-Maoist cadres killed a para-teacher, identified as Charku Yadav alias Sandip Yadav (30), at Jori village in Gumla District. CPI-Maoist cadres also left a pamphlet which labelled Yadav as 'Police informer' and accused Police of giving patronage to JJMP. JJMP is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist. The pamphlets also decried Operation Green Hunt - an anti-Naxal drive that has been stopped long back - and urged the masses to support the Naxals in fighting Police oppression. They claimed that CPI-Maoist and their subsidiaries such as PGLA and JMP now stood united.

Ranchi Police arrested Ganesh Shankar alias Ganesh Kumar, a self-styled 'commander' of PLFI in Ranchi District. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist. Nalanda SP, Kumar Ashish told reporters that Ganesh, son of one Nageshar Mistri, was wanted in connection with murders of a Jharkhand businessman and a Hilsa resident. He also added that Ganesh has over 12 criminal cases of heinous nature registered against him with different Police Stations in Nalanda, Bakhtiarpur in Patna District and Barhi in Hazaribagh District of neighbouring State, Jharkhand.

Simdega District Police arrested six PLFI cadres near village Mahuatoli under Parba Police Station in Simdega District. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist. Police recovered two 7.62 mm bolt action rifles, several rounds of ammunition, three mobile phones and other paraphernalia from the operatives. The six men arrested included; 'area commander' Sachin Topno, Dubraj Topno, Ram Topno, Nitmohan Kongari, Ramesh Surin and Simone Kongari. The six were residents of Kamdara in Gumla District of Jharkhand. The Central Committee of the CPI-Maoist, called a 24-hour countrywide bandh on March 29, in Ranchi District, to protest the life imprisonment of CPI-Maoist 'ideologue' and DU Professor G.N. Saibaba and four others by Gadchiroli District (Maharashtra) court for aiding Naxal activities.

Three cadres of the TPC, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, were killed after an internecine clash at Seeta Chuan under Mohammadganj Police Station in Palamau District. One of the killed TPC cadre was identified as, 'zonal commander' Ajay Yadav, who has a reward of INR 500,000 on his head. Yadav was involved in the Kala Pahad IED blast case in which seven Police personnel were killed in Palamu on January 27, 2016. The other two killed were identified as 'area commanders' Krishna Kharwar and Ravindra Mahto. Police also recovered one AK-47 rifle, one INSAS rifle, one semi automatic rifle, one 303 rifle and one 0.315 bore gun along with 630 live bullets, 23 magazines, 11 cell phones, several IEDs ,50 meter of Codex wire, flash and 6 back packs. A person Uday Oraon was also arrested from the site. Palamu Deputy DIG Vipul Shukla said, "It appears that the loss of life is due to the inner fight."

Police recovered cash worth INR four million, sophisticated weapons such as AK-47, self-loading rifle and a .315 bore rifle and over 100 cartridges from a TPC, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, hideout in Balumath area of Latehar District late The raid was followed by an exchange of fire between Police and the rebels. However, there was no report of any casualty or arrest.

Two Naxals of JJMM were arrested from Dega Degi riverside, under McCluskieganj Police Station area in Ranchi District. JJMM is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

A PLFI cadre and cousin of late PLFI 'Commander' Mahadeo Munda, Shankar Munda was arrested from Charam Bartoli under Khunti Police Station area in Khunti District. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

District Police recovered a bagful of Naxal literature from Daltonganj in Palamu District. The SP of Palamu, Indrajeet Mahatha told reporters that Naxals have set up Gram Kranti Committee and there is a huge list of villagers drawn from many places. Mahatha said the documents showed how deep is the inroads of the Maoists in zameen vivad which used to be settled on caste line more than on another consideration like possessing of land etc. CM Raghubar Das reiterated the stand of the Government and extended a fresh appeal to the Naxals active in Jharkhand to shun violence and join the mainstream in Nagar Untari of Garhwa District.

Suspected PLFI cadres killed David Soy (20), outside his house in Gompilla under Torpa Police Station in Khunti District. The rebels suspected Soy of being a 'Police informer'. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

Cadres of the JJMP, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, set ablaze a dumper near a CCL colliery in Tandwa area in Chatra District. At least 10 to 15 Maoists raided Magadh colliery project, a private company engaged by the CCL at Tandawa and set the vehicle on fire. Denial of 'levy' sought by Maoists is suspected to be the reason behind the attack.

Police and CRPF demolished a Maoist bunker in Dumri in Giridih District during a search, and recovered Maoist literature and items of daily use.

CPI-Maoist cadre Soma Munda was arrested from the outskirts of the town in Khunti District. 'Levy' amounting to INR 48,000 was found on him. Soma figures as a named accused in over a dozen incidents of Maoist violence and carried a reward of INR 50,000 on his head.

Two active cadres of the CPI-Maoist were arrested from Tamar Police Station area in Khunti District. Ram Mohan Munda and Dawood Tirkey were involved in the murder of Jivan Singh Munda, head of Burusingu village, in Tamar last year. Based on their information, Police have recovered the murder weapon - a country-made pistol and some incriminating documents from the arrested Maoists. Both of them also have a criminal background.

The 26th CRPF battalion during a combing operation recovered two powerful can-bombs suspected to be planted by the Naxals from the forest area in between Tilaya-Dakasaram road in Gomia block in Bokaro District. The CRPF personnel also recovered 105 pieces of detonators within limits of Jagesher -Bihar Police Station of Bermo sub-division in the District.

Two youths identified as Birsa Purti (25) and Bandeya Munda (22) was shot dead at Toner village under Murhu Police Station in Khunti District. An official of Murhu Police Station said that Bagrai Champia, an 'area commander' of the PLFI, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, was involved in the twin killings.

Police arrested one Satyendra Oraon alias Gilhari, an active cadre of the TPC, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, from Chandwa locality in Latehar District. OIC, Chandwa Thana, Kamleshwar Pandey, said that Oraon was wanted by Police for over six cases including an abduction of contractor Jhalo Thakur.

Four PLFI cadres, including a woman, were arrested from Bodomada under Bano Police Station area in Simdega District. The woman has been identified as Poonam Topno (21) while the three others are Albins Topno (23), Sukhram Topno (19) and Jeevan Soren (19). As many as 25 rounds of ammunition used in INSAS assault rifles, a mobile phone and pamphlets with PLFI messages were recovered. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

District Police and CRPF's 154th Battalion busted three bunkers and recovered huge cache of explosives from Parasnath and its adjoining jungles during an anti- CPI-Maoist operation in Giridih District. A Maoist cadre, identified as Deepak Munda, was also arrested during the operation.

Following a tip-off, two suspected CPI-Maoist supporters were arrested by Herhanj Police from a local market in Palamu District. The identities of the arrestees' are yet to be ascertained.

Police busted a mini gun factory in Tetar under Nagar Utari Police limits in Garhwa District and recovered country made pistols.

District Police arrested PLFI, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, 'area commander' Prabhu Sahay Bodra and his three associates from Murgidih under Arki Police Station area in Khunti District. Police also seized 20 bullets from the PLFI 'area commander' Sahay. The identity of the three associates is yet to be ascertained.

A SI and a Policeman were killed in a gunfight with the PLFI, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, in Simdega District. Bano Police Station in-charge Vidhyapati Singh and his team of four guards stormed a house in Mahabuang village in Bano block in the night after they were alerted about the presence of PLFI 'second-in-command' Guddu Gope, Police said. As the SFs came face to face with the rebel 'commander', Singh asked him to surrender but Gope opened fire with an AK-47, injuring Singh and District Constabulary trooper Raju Biruli. Gope managed to flee under the cover of darkness but a gunfight broke out between his men and the SFs.

SFs arrested Gurua Munda, a CPI-Maoist cadre and right hand man of 'area commander' Maharaj Pramanik, from Harbagadh village under Tamar Police Station in Ranchi District. Munda had joined CPI-Maoist in 2014 and was wanted by Police in at least 10 cases, including five murders. He was involved in the murder of Ram Singh Munda and Jagran Manjhi, Mohan Singh Munda and Jitendra Singh Munda and Amit Karmakar at Palna Dam in 2014 and 2015. Gurua revealed that Maharaj Pramanik, Amit Munda, Pradeep Swansi and Duryodhana are some of the top Maoist operatives who are trying to regroup in the area.

CPI-Maoist 'zonal commander' Nakul Yadav and his deputy Madan Yadav have reportedly surrendered before a Ranchi Police team in Bishunpur area of Gumla District of Jharkhand

Jharkhand Police launched an initiative 'Tarey Zameen Par' to help the Naxal -affected children in Palamu District of Jharkhand. Citizens also supported the initiative by donating articles such as clothes, school bags, instrument boxes, water bottles, shoes, slippers, toys, comic books etc.

Khunti Police arrested Anil Herenj a cadre of PLFI, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, from Karra Police Station in Khunti District of Jharkhand. Police recovered one pistol and nine live bullets. Anil was supposed to be appointed as the 'area commander' of Tupudana and Karra.

A dozen of armed cadres of CPI-Maoist torched 11 tractors and an earthmover of a road construction firm at Pithaura locality under Pipra Police Station in Palamau District of Jharkhand.

Kamlesh Ganjhu a cadre of TPC, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, was arrested from Lawalong area of Chatra District of Jharkhand. SFs recovered AK-47 rifle, a pistol, two magazines, 152 cartridges and INR 3,614,000 in cash from Ganjhu' s house during the raid.

A 'sub zonal commander' of CPI-Maoist, Damodar Yadav, surrendered before Palamau range DIG, Vipul Shukla in Latehar District of Jharkhand. Yadav was carrying a reward of INR 500,000. He was given INR 50,000 in cash and INR 500,000 in cheque following his surrender.

Police interrogated a 20-year-old tribal woman in Bishunpur area of Gumla District of Jharkhand. She was forcibly taken away by CPI-Maoist 'zonal commander' Nakul Yadav's squad a few years ago and exploited at the rebel camp. She was forced to marry CPI-Maoist's Anil Oraon and gave birth to a baby girl two months ago.

MHA has identified two civil rights groups linked with Naxalites. The ministry has named the Niyamgiri Suraksha Samithi (NSS) in Odisha and Visthapan Virodhi Jan Vikas Andolan (VVJVA) in Jharkhand as the two organisations acting as fronts for Naxalites groups. The report by MHA also says that the NSS had campaigned against mining activity by the Odisha Mining Corporation at the Niyamgiri Hills which would have given the Vedanta Group access to natural resources. The VVJVA on the other hand opposed the decision by the Jharkhand Government to amend two tenancy laws which allowed the use of agriculture land of tribal people for non-agricultural purposes.

A highly Naxal infested block Naudeeha in Palamu District of Jharkhand will have Jharkhand Balika Awasiya Vidyalaya for the girl students living in its 11 Panchayats. The school is expected to be ready by 2018. Jharkhand Balika Awasiya Vidyalaya is on the pattern of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Awasiya Vidalaya.

Two Naxals were arrested by SFs at Mandaldih village under Pirtand Police Station area of Giridih District. The arrested Naxals were identified as Vijay Manjhi (35), a resident of Pargo village under Nimiyaghat Police Station and Babu Lal Murmu (40) of Bega gadha village in Bokaro. SFs recovered two IED, Maoist literature, uniforms, and banners from them.

A villager Shiv Nath Yadav (55) and his son Guddu Yadav (28) were killed by over 20 armed cadres of CPI-Maoist at village Kulheya under Harihurganj Police Station in Palamu District. The two were suspected by CPI-Maoist cadres as TPC supporters. TPC is a splinter group of CPI-Maoist.

MHA has identified two civil rights groups linked with Naxalites. The ministry has named the Niyamgiri Suraksha Samithi in Odisha and Visthapan Virodhi Jan Vikas Andolan in Jharkhand as the two organisations acting as fronts for Naxalites groups. The report by MHA also says that the NSS had campaigned against mining activity by the Odisha Mining Corporation at the Niyamgiri Hills which would have given the Vedanta Group access to natural resources. The VVJVA on the other hand opposed the decision by the Jharkhand Government to amend two tenancy laws which allowed the use of agriculture land of tribal people for non-agricultural purposes.

A highly Naxal infested block Naudeeha in Palamu will have Jharkhand Balika Awasiya Vidyalaya for the girl students living in its 11 Panchayats. The school is expected to be ready by 2018. JBAV is on the pattern of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Awasiya Vidalaya.

The CWC in Gumla District initiated the rehabilitation of a 17-year-old Bal Dasta girl member. She was a member of the child squad of the CPI-Maoist two-and-a-half years ago.

A PLFI cadre, Kapil Pradhan, was arrested from Jaldega area in Simdega District. PLFI is a splinter group of CPI-Maoist. SP, R.R. Singh said Pradhan was involved in pasting PLFI posters near Kurdeg bus stand on April 16

Over 3,000 Police and CRPF personnel have intensified anti-Maoist operations in Burhapahar forests spread over Latehar, Palamau and Garhwa Districts and Balrampur in Chhattishgarh.

The PLFI operatives have called a state-wide bandh on April 24 to protest against the arrest of 'zonal commander' Gujju Gope's wife Sangeeta, who worked as a nurse at a state-run health centre in Rania, in Khunti District. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

Jharkhand Police have intensified anti-Naxal operations in some of the worst hit areas of the State in last few days. According to senior Police officials, a multi-pronged strategy was being adopted to eradicate Maoists from Jharkhand, besides intensifying operations against them in some of their core areas. Inspector General, Ashish Batra told, "Besides intensifying anti-Naxal operations, surrender policy in the State are also being emphasised making people more educated regarding the provisions under the scheme. Family members are also being contacted and are being asked to convince their loved ones to join the mainstream who have lost their track."

SFs have stepped up anti-Naxal operations in Burha-Pahar that links Jharkhand with Chhattisgarh following reports of a top leader, Dev Kumar Singh alias Arvind ji, who carries a bounty of INR 10 millions on his head, at forest areas in Latehar District of Jharkhand.

A juvenile cadre of the CPI-Maoist wanted in nine criminal cases including murder, arson and attack on Police was arrested from Vijaygiri in Ranchi District.

Six children, including a girl, were rescued from the clutches of CPI-Maoist cadres in Kerar forest under Bagdu Police Station in Lohardaga District. The children, aged between 13 and 16, are residents of Lohardaga and Gumla Districts. The CPI-Maoist cadres had forcibly taken them away and inducted them as members of their Bal Dasta (child squad), told DIG, South Chotanagpur, A.V. Homkar to the reporters.

Three CRPF personnel were injured in a Naxal attack in the Daltonganj area in Palamu District.

The day-long bandh called by PLFI, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist evoked mixed reactions across the State.

Four CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested by Ranchi Police from Nilkocha jungles of Tamar in Ranchi District. The four persons arrested by the Police have been identified as Shiv Shankar Mahto, Shyam Chandra Mahto, Umesh Mahto and Saurabh Mahto hailing from Chipibagdih village under Tamar Police Station. Police recovered one loaded country made carbine, three loaded country made pistols, one country made gun, one country made pistol, four detonators and around 80 cartridges of AK-47 along with Khakhi uniform, cap and five copies of Naxal literature - 'Lal Chingari' (Red Spark).

Ten cadres of CPI-Maoist, including two 'area commanders' and three women cadres, surrendered before Chhotanagpur range, DIG of Police, A.V. Homkar at the inaugural ceremony of "bandook chhodo, volleyball khelo abhiyan" (drop guns and play volleyball) programme in Lohardaga District of Jharkhand. The two 'area commanders' Vishal Kherwar (26) and Kaleshwar Kherwar (19) carried INR 200,000 rewards each on their heads. Others who surrendered are Chandreshwar Oraon (23), Jitendra Ganjhu (23), Sukhram Kherwar (34), Sukhlal Nageshia (18), Meena Oraon (23), Sushanti Oraon (18), Seema Oraon (18) and Harendra Oraon (19), who was recently elevated to the rank of 'sub-zonal commander'.

CPI-Maoist cadres blew up a school building in Birbanki village under Arki Police Station, about 80km from Khunti District. Maoists also set ablaze a mobile tower and a concrete mixer.

Police recovered five IEDs hidden in the bushes on the outskirts of Jangur village in Manika area of Latehar District. SP, Dhananjay Kumar said the IEDs were defused smoothly and search operations were in full swing.

Two Maoists cadres, Nunulal Hansda and Devilal Hansda, surrendered before DIG, Akhilesh Jha, in Dumka Range in Dumka District.

Alok Yadav, TPC 'sub-zonal commander' was arrested from his hideout in Mahuadand area in Latehar District. TPC is a splinter group of CPI-Maoist

ADG (Operations) RK Mallick after a review meeting related to Naxal incidents at Police Headquarters in Ranchi District told reporters that a decision has been taken to cease property of top CPI-Maoist and Splinter Groups under NDPS Act. He further stated that, "Out of a total of 60 incidents related to red rebels till April 30 this year, 28 of them were of CPI-Maoists against 22 out of 80 incidents carried out last year in this period which indicates that it has increased by 25 per cent."

In a joint operation launched by the Jharkhand Police and 158 Battalion CRPF, a massive cache of arms and ammunitions was recovered from a Naxal hideout in Lohardaga District. A 7.62 mm LMG, semi-automatic US made rifle, an AK 47, a SLR rifle, three INSAS rifle, two 303 rifles, four 315 rifles, communication sets, along with magazines and around more than 3000 ammunitions of different calibres were among the weapons and ammunition that were recovered.

A CPI-Maoist 'zonal commander' Nakul Yadav and a 'sub-zonal commander' Madan Yadav surrendered before the Police in Ranchi District. Nakul was carrying a reward of INR 1.5 million and Madan carried INR 500,000 on their heads. The two were given financial help under the State Government program which tries to help them have a better life ahead.

SFs arrested two PLFI cadres, Gaganpreet Singh (24) and Markus Aind (25), near Birsa Chowk in Ranchi District. SFs recovered INR 45,000 in cash, 13 SIMs, seven mobile phones, PLFI letter head and a bike from them. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

An important meeting of Police officials of Jharkhand and Bihar along with CRPF officers took place at the premises of Cobra Battalion Headquarter situated at Barhi, in Hazaribagh District. In this meeting the officials of both the States decided to launch a combined combat operation against the Naxals. They (Police officials) decided that the aim is to uproot the banned Naxal groups from the border areas of both the States. The officials also decided to set up the right way of communication between the Police forces of both the States especially between the forces on duty in the border districts

Lohardaga Police recovered a large cache of explosives, including 53 can bombs, one container bomb weighing 10 kilograms and 15 litres of fuel from Husru forest in Lohardaga District. Lohardaga SP Kartik S said, "We have seized 53 can bombs each containing 500 gm of explosives, one container bomb of 10 kg, 10 bundles of codex wires of 10 kg each and some unidentified explosive powder and 15 litres of unidentified fuel. A gas welding and cutting machine along with a gas cylinder and 30-40 kg of iron rods which were meant to be used as splinters were also recovered. We will send the powder and the fuel for forensic analysis to know the chemical compositions. It will explain what they were meant to be used for." The recovery made on May 6 was on the basis of disclosures made by surrendered CPI-Maoist 'zonal commander' Nakul Yadav and a tip-off received by the Lohardaga Police. According to Police sources, the explosives were hidden underground inside the forest.

Secretary to the CM, Sunil Kumar Barnwal, directed authorities of Khunti District to handover joining letter to survivors of Naxal attacks in a week time.

CM Raghubar Das made a request to the Centre Government to waive off the amount due on CRPF for carrying out anti-Naxal operation in Jharkhand.

Khunti Police arrested a PLFI cadre, Parasnath Gope, from Kotenger forests in Khunti District. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist. Gope carried a reward of INR 50,000 on his head and was a close associate of PLFI supremo Dinesh Gope and figured as named accused in over half-a-dozen cases of violence in Karra and Lapung areas.

Palamu Police arrested CPI-Maoist 'zonal commander', Ram Sunder Ram alias Aloke ji, of BJSAC in Ranchi District. Aloke carried a reward of INR 1 million on his head.

Kundan Pahan, the once dreaded CPI-Maoist 'commander', infamous for mercilessly killing Police officers, had voluntarily surrendered a week back in Ranchi District. Pahan carried a reward of INR 1.5 million on his head. He joined the CPI-Maoists in 2000 following a land dispute with influential people in his village Arki.

A 35-year old CPI-Maoist cadre, identified as Tilakdhari Prasad, was allegedly shot dead by unidentified men at a isolated place at Durga-Dhawaya near Ghutia-Pesra middle school, under Saria Police Station in Giridih District. The incident occurred in the night at around 9. 45 when Tilakdhari was on his way to his house Mundro village in Giridih. The assailants waiting for him outside the road fired two bullets at him, SDPO of Bagodar, Deepak Kumar Sharma, said.

Prakash Purty (45), a civilian, was shot at and injured by a squad of the CPI-Maoist cadres at Erla village under Sonua Thana area in West Singhbhum District. Sources informed that the high alert has been called after intelligence report that the Maoist may attack at Naxal areas of the District.

CPI-Maoist cadres allegedly killed a youth at Badro forest area in Giridih District, for being a 'Police informer'. The victim identified as Ajay Mahto (25), was a resident of Jamua kurkuri village under Pirtard Police limits, was killed with sharp-edged weapons at his native place, SDPO, Manish Toppo said. The Police have also recovered the pamphlets from the spot.

Four PLFI cadres, including 'area commander' Kuldip Gope, were arrested after an exchange of fire with Police in Kamdara area in Gumla District. Two rifles, cartridges, mobile phones and PLFI literature were also recovered from their possession.

CPI-Maoist cadres assaulted two persons, Kailash Tori and Raja Tori at village Amwatiker in Tiger Reserve in Palamu District. Later, Kailash Tori succumbed to injuries. CPI-Maoist cadres branded the duo as 'Police informer'.

Palamu Police arrested and jailed a 'sub-zonal commander' of the CPI-Maoist, Raghu Chamar, at Hariharganj in Palamu District. Raghu carried a reward of INR 600,000 on his head.

Security personnel seized explosives from Kerar, Bulbul and Pesrar jungle in Maoist-hit Lohardaga District. The security personnel seized a 51 mm mortar, 18 pieces of high explosives bombs, six mobile phones, seven sim cards.

BJSAC of the CPI-Maoist decided to observe Protest Day from May 23 to 27, followed by a state-wide bandh on May 29 in Jharkhand. The banned outfit is celebrating the golden jubilee of the Naxalbari upsurge of West Bengal. In a press release issued by BJSAC, Maoists criticized the Raghubar Das led BJP Government for amending tribal protection laws (Chhotanagpur Tenancy Act and Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act) to allow multinational companies plunder the resources.

Seven cadres of TPC, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, were killed in an exchange of fire between its two factions in Keredari area of Hazaribagh District. DIG of North Chhotanagpur Division, Bhimsen Tuti, told that the group fought following a dispute on the sharing of extortion money seized from construction companies. The bodies of three out seven cadres were identified as TPC 'zonal commander' Sagar, 'sub-zonal commanders' Manish and Jhonson. One severed head recovered from the spot was yet to be identified. The rest three bodies and the injured cadres were taken away by the rebels, Police said.

Three mixer machines were set ablaze by CPI-Maoist cadres at Tarwadeeh in Latehar District. The CPI-Maoist cadres were led by Chhotu Kharwar.

The CPI-Maoist cadres engaged SFs in an exchange of fire in Kasidih and Koyotand areas under Gomia Police Station of Bokaro District. As the face-off took place near railway tracks on CIC section of Dhanbad division of East Central Railway, train services were disrupted. No casualties were reported on either side.

The NHRC issued a notice to the Jharkhand Government over the alleged abduction and recruitment of children by CPI-Maoist cadres in the State. Taking suo motu cognisance over the media reports, the Commission has asked State Government to respond with specific reference to the questions: what is the police estimate of actual number of children who have been recruited in the Maoists cadre in the State of Jharkhand, what action has been taken by the Police to trace such children and re-integrate them with the main stream of the society, what measures have been taken to educate and rehabilitate such children and what action has been taken against the persons who were involved in dragging the innocent children into the Maoists' cadre and coercing them to carry out illegal activities?

Nearly 60 women cadres of CPI-Maoist set ablaze Dumri Bihar Railway Station on the Gomoh-Barkakana section of ECR in Bokaro District. Armed with rifles and bombs, the Maoists forced the railway employees to leave the premises before setting the main station building afire. The rebels also set afire the engine of a goods train and left with valuable railway equipment. This damaged the signal and communication system of the railways on the route. They also snatched a walkie-talkie from an engine driver. The rebels had planned to trigger a blast. They had planted 40 can bombs, but the security personnel defused them. Handbills pasted by the Maoists on the walls of the station buildings and on stationary train coaches asked the Jharkhand Government to cancel the MoUs signed with "capitalist forces" following the recent Momentum Jharkhand investors' summit. The Maoists have called for a statewide bandh on May 29 and the attack on the railway station, said Police sources, aimed at creating an atmosphere of fear among the general public.

A group of CPI-Maoist cadres dragged a schoolteacher, identified as Kalicharan Mahto from his house and shot him dead outside his village, Tiskopi, under Chatrochatti Police Station area in Gomia block in Bokaro District. The schoolteacher was killed apparently because the Maoists suspected him of being a 'Police informer'. Before leaving the village, the Maoists set afire a mobile phone tower and threw several handbills in the area. The handwritten pamphlets warned the State Government of severe consequences unless the recent MoUs signed with multinational corporations are cancelled.

PLFI regional 'commander' Raju Singh was arrested during a search operation in Jilingburu forests in Khunti District. A double-barrel gun and cartridges were found on him. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

SFs are on a high alert after the CPI-Maoist cadres called for a State-wide bandh on May 29 against the "anti-people policies" of the Jharkhand Government. IG (Operations), Ashish Batra, asserted that anti-Naxal operations were also going on in full swing in the light of the day long bandh called by the Maoists.

TPC cadres - Chandan Kumar, Md Arif and Biraj Bhuiyan - were arrested while burning kendu leaves in a farm in Ramgarh District, after failing to extort 'levy' from a contractor. TPC is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

CPI-Maoist cadres blew up a railway track between Chiyanki-Karmabad railway station on Gaya-Mughalsarai rail route and set ablaze vehicles in Giridih and Bokaro Districts, during the 24-hour State-wide bandh called in Jharkhand to protest against the amendments in tenancy acts and the alleged anti-poor policy of the Raghubar Das Government. The Maoists blasted the down tracks between Chiyanki and Karmabad railway stations leading to disruption of the rail movement for at least nine hours. They also set ablaze one vehicle and one poklen machine in Giridih and two vehicles at Chutte village in Gomia block of Bokaro District. SDPO of Saria, Deepak Kumar said that the Maoists blew up the track under the Dhanbad railway division. Many other trains, including Delhi-Rajdhani, Delhi-Sealdah-Rajdhani were also stranded at different railway stations due to the incident. The traffic on the route was disrupted for nearly 10 hours till a railway team reached the site and reinstalled the broken railway lines.

A group of Maoists stormed at the work site at Gagaguro village and after threatening the workers to leave the place, they set on fire a poklen machine engaged in road construction in Giridih District. They also set ablaze a bolero jeep parked at Dhawatand forest area on Giridih-Dumri Road during the bandh. No one was injured in the incident.

A group of suspected Maoists set ablaze two Tata pickup vans engaged in carrying passengers in Chute village in Gomia block under Gomia Police Station in Bokaro District.

The bandh called by the Maoists crippled road and public transport in the rural areas of the State the most as many transporters preferred to keep their vehicles off the roads fearing rebel attacks. Fewer trucks were seen on roads as the frequency of long route buses was also very low. People avoided using trains despite heavy deployment of security forces in almost every train that passed through the Maoist belt, said Police officials.

The cadres of the PLFI, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, set ablaze two earthmovers digging a pond at Palkot in Gumla District. Gumla SP, Chandan Jha said combing operations had been intensified in the area.

A group of more than 50 CPI-Maoist cadres raided the construction camp and set ablaze five vehicles used in road construction in Giridih District. Five persons, including the owner of the vehicle, were beaten up. The injured were shifted to hospital.

Giridih Police recovered 2,772 pieces of power gel, 6,750 detonators and over 8,500 meters of wire from the house of one Suresh Yadav from Teesri Thana area in Giridih District. The SDPO, Prabhat Ranjan Barwar, said Yadav, who was arrested, had revealed names of his three associates and raids were on to arrest them.

The ADJ in Lohardaga District; awarded 10 years' rigorous imprisonment to CPI-Maoist 'sub-zonal commander' Kameshwar Yadav. He was charged in a case related to the recovery of explosives following his arrest in 2015.

DGP, D.K. Pandey, visited Topchanchi Thana in Dhanbad District, as part of a recce of different Naxal-hit Police Stations of the State. The DGP told reporters, "We are working on a mission to wipe out Naxalism from the state by the end of 2017."

A 24-hour bandh is called by PLFI, a splinter group the CPI-Maoist, in the State on June 7. Around 300 buses are set to remain off roads as Ranchi Bus Owners' Association has decided not to run them during the bandh, which will come into force from June 6 midnight. The bandh call is in protest against amendments to the Chhotanagpur Tenancy Act, (CNT 1908) and Santal Parganas Tenancy Act, (SPTA 1949) by the State Government.

Buses on from Sita Ramdera terminus in East Singhbhum District bound for Khunti District, Simdega, Chaibasa, Chakradharpur and Odisha did not play, due to the bandh. The PLFI, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist had called bandh in protest of the State Government's move to amend land tenancy laws. Jamshedpur Bus Owners' Association president Upender Sharma said they decided not to risk passenger safety.

No major untoward incident was reported during 24 hour state-wide bandh by the PLFI in Ranchi District. The busy market places in traditional PLFI strongholds like, Khunti, Simdega and Gumla too wore deserted looks.

The Giridih Police carried out kurki-jabti on the house of the Naxal Nunuchand Mahto, who carries INR 500,000 award on his head, at Khukhra village in Giridih District. By a very rough estimate, domestic pot, bed, furniture and others house hold materials costing INR 45 to 50 thousand had been seized from Naxal's house. The Jharkhand Police's initiative to cripple Maoist leaders financially by confiscating their property under the UAPA has met considerable success.

A CPI-Maoist cadre was killed in an encounter with the CRPF and local Police at Dholkatta forest in Parashnath area in Giridih District. The identity of Maoist is yet to be ascertained. SP, Akhlesh V. Verier told that the killed CPI-Maoist cadre was a member of Prayag Manjhi and Ajay Mahto squad.

An encounter took place between SFs and CPI-Maoist cadres at Kasidanga in East Singhbhum District. The CPI-Maoist cadres were led by Akaash, a senior leader of the CPI-Maoist and wanted by Police for various offences. An AK-47 rifle with 32 rounds of ammunition, a 9 mm pistol with six rounds and two magazines among other things were recovered from the spot of encounter by the security personnel.

Police arrested two PLFI supporters, Surendra Nath and Sunil Thakur, from Bano area of Simdega District. The Police also recovered ammunitions from the arrested cadres that they were about to deliver to their 'chief' Gujju Gope. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

A JJMP cadre, Anil Oraon, was arrested from Udaypura village in Latehar District. INR 34,000 in cash and a mobile phone were recovered from him. JJMP is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

Ten cadres of TPC shot dead two brothers, Muneswar alias Munna (34), Nageswar Oraon (32), and grievously injured a third, Jogeswar (28), at Piparwar village in Chatra District. TPC is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist. Police suspect the brothers were victims of revenge killing. Their eldest sibling Muneswar was an accused in the murder of six TPC cadres in Hindgiri in Ranchi District on May 21.

In joint operation the District Armed Police and the CRPF recovered huge quantity of explosives and arrested two cadres, Chunu Munda and Jeevan Pahan alias Bicha, of the PLFI from Khunti District. The security personnel found explosives kept hidden and seized 20 Kilogram of claymore bomb, 15 Kilogram of liquid explosive in eight packets, 25 gelatine sticks and a grenade. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

Presiding over the Unified Command Meeting in Ranchi District of Jharkhand, CM Raghubar Das said that the Jharkhand State Government is committed to uproot Naxals and mentioned that because of the determination level of his government, the Naxal violence has decreased up to 50% in Jharkhand. He added that by the end of the year, Naxal problems will be eradicated.

Union Additional Secretary (Home Ministry) Jaideep Govind said that the statistics about Naxal incidents in Jharkhand was "encouraging" for the entire country and added that the state government deserved a compliment for the achievement. Jharkhand Chief Secretary Rajbala Verma said the state was heading towards becoming a state free from LWE.

Somri Devi (27), who was arrested in December 2006 for her alleged involvement in CPI-Maoist activities, was acquitted by the Additional District and Sessions Judge (IX) in Hazaribagh District, in the absence of evidence. Somri's lawyer Sanjeev Kumar Sinha said neither the witnesses nor the investigating officer turned up in the court to testify against her.

A two-hour long encounter between SFs and CPI-Maoist cadres took place in Kiriburu forest of West Singhbhum District. Later after the encounter, Police recovered a pistol, three IEDs, two binoculars, Maoist literature and uniforms from the encounter site.

The SFs seized explosives and gun power from the Digri jungle in Khunti District. Based on information gathered that the Maoists have stored large quantity of explosives with an intention to harm security personnel, a joint search operation by the District Police and CRPF was launched. During the search operation the SF personnel found 109 pieces of gelatin sticks, 66 pieces of detonators, one kilogram of gun powder and about six kilograms of splinters, Sinha said.

PLFI cadres set an earthmover on fire and damaged another one at Banedega village under Palkot thana area in Gumla District. Both the earthmovers were engaged in constructing a bridge and digging a pond in the area. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

A transporter and a PLFI cadre were arrested in Ranchi District for intimidating the director of a finance company to try and force him to write off a loan of INR 700,000 used to buy a truck. SP (city), Aman Kumar said transporter Parmeswar Prasad (55), a resident of Harihar Colony in Pandara Police Station area, had used the services of his acquaintance, Badal (32), who is PLFI cadre, to scare off the director of Paragon Finance that had financed a truck of his. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

A CPI-Maoist cadre, identified as Santosh Yadav, surrendered before SP, Dhananjay Kumar Singh, in Latehar District. Santosh had first joined the PLFI, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, in 2008 and later switched over to the Maoist outfit. He was forwarded to Latehar Divisional Jail.

Police recovered eight IEDs, three pistols, eight hand grenades, detonators, explosive powder and codex wire during a search operation in the Manika Police Station area in Latehar District. A banner found there indicated that the items belonged to CPI-Maoist.

Police raided a PLFI hideout in Jilingburu forests under Torpa Police Station area in Khunti District, and seized three bikes, several mobile phones and backpacks. 'Sub-zonal commander' Jeedan Gudia escaped with his associates, but two suspected persons have been detained for questioning. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

A Mukhiya was shot dead by suspected cadres of the PLFI in Narahatu village under Rania Police Station in Khunti District. Around 10 PLFI cadres laced with fire-arm arrived in the village and dragged John Lugun (32), Mukhiya of khatkura panchayat out of his house late last night and gunned him down. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

An encounter took place between the security personnel and CPI-Maoist cadres in Palamu District. The Maoists opened fire at the security personnel, who were on anti-Naxal operation in Vijaygiri hills under Naudihabazar Police Station of Palamu District. The Maoists opened indiscriminate firing from foothill on seeing the approaching security personnel, forcing them to retaliate, said SP, Indrajeet Mahantha adding that the encounter lasted for two hours. After the Naxals fled the scene in view of the mounting pressure, a massive search operation was launched following the encounter to arrest the Naxals but in vain so far, he said.

PLFI cadre Etwa Bodra was arrested along with seven live bullets of 7.62 calibres from Murhu Police Station area of Khunti District. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

Palamu Police in a joint operation with the CRPF recovered a huge cache of explosives from the hideouts of CPI-Maoist at Kukukalan under Naudiha Police Station in Palamu District. Palamu SP, Indrajit Mahatha, said 500 metres of codex wire, two IEDs, a cylinder bomb, 54 live bullets of 7.62mm calibre, 24 live bullets of 9mm calibre and one electronic detonator were recovered.

SFs have unearthed 48 IEDs and 800 metres of detonating wire from Jarda Pahar in Tamar in Ranchi District. The recovery, which also comprised three five kilograms cylinder bombs and three switches.

Six PLFI cadres were arrested from Bakaspur forest area under Karra Police Station in Khunti District. One pistol, four live bullets and two stolen bikes were recovered from them. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

SFs recovered seven live grenades from Panki-Balumath road in Karimati Ghati in Palamu District. Acting on a tip-off, the District Police launched a search operation and recovered the explosives. The grenades might have been kept hidden by the ultras as the area is affected by CPI-Maoist and PLFI militants. A massive search operation is underway following the seizure in the area, Mahatha said.

The SSB along with Jharkhand Police conducted a joint operation and arrested a CPI-Maoist cadre, identified as Ravinder Kumar along with arms and ammunition from Hazaribagh in Hazaribagh District. The raiding team also recovered one country-made pistol, ammunition, two sets of combat dress, INR 95,000 in cash and five mobile phones from the possession of the Maoist.

The CRPF has recovered two kilograms explosives, 58 live bullets, two country made guns and 44 empty containers from a CPI-Maoist hideout in Mukundpur and Piri localities of Latehar District.

Cadres of the JJMP killed one Navrangi Yadav (70) and injured five others in Badaibatha village in Latehar District, over a land dispute. The deceased was the father of local ward member Mithilesh Yadav. JJMP is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

A Can-bomb weighing around 20 kilograms and a 200-metre electric wire were found from a one-foot deep pit at Shantinagar under Adityapur Thana area in Seraikela-Kharsawan District. Informed by a local resident, Police swung into action by pressing into service a bomb disposal squad from Ranchi who blasted the bomb.

Suspected PLFI militants shot dead a businessman Shyamlal Prasad (55) on the outskirts of Gumla town in Gumla District. The deceased used to run a brick kiln and a stone crusher unit in Dumardih locality, about 7 kilometres from District headquarters and 150 kilometres from Ranchi. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

Giridih Police arrested a CPI-Maoist cadre during a joint operation of the District Police and the CRPF within Khukhara Police Station limits in Giridih District. SDPO, Giridih Manish Toppo, has identified the Maoist as Nirmal Mandal alias Horil, who is active member of CPI-Maoist in Parashnath areas. One mobile, one laptop, and INR 200,000 cash were seized from his possession. According to reports, Nirmal was allegedly in involved many dreadful incidents. In the past two or three years, Police said, Nirmal was working with other others rebels, and at present, he had been recruiting youths in the Parashnath areas into his organization.

Suspected PLFI militants set ablaze two vehicles at a crusher unit in Ormanjhi in Ranchi District. Posters ordering the closure of illegal crusher units, proper pay to labourers and prohibiting the employment of women labourers at night were found at the spot. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

Ranchi Police foiled a major PLFI offensive by arresting four cadres and recovering arms at Jara Toli under Ormanjhi Police Station area in Ranchi District. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

SFs recovered about 600 rounds of ammunition and few grenades during an anti-Naxal operation in Palamu District. The operation was jointly carried out by a squad of the 134th battalion of the CRPF and Palamu Police in Salaia forest area of the District where troops busted a suspected Maoist hideout. SFs recovered 599 bullet rounds of various calibres, five hand grenades and 127 grenade base plugs from the site.

Four cadres of the CPI-Maoist were arrested with a large quantity of ammunition in an anti-Naxal operation in Giridih District. The arrested Maoists were identified as Govind Manjhi, Tala, Kalicharan Turi and Girdhari Mahato.

Lohardaga Police rescued three minors from the CPI-Maoist cadres at Peshrar area in Lohardaga District. The children were working for CPI-Maoist Central Committee member Arvind alias Dev Kumar.

A CPI-Maoist cadre, Charles Hembrom, was sent to Dumka Central Jail in Dumka District of Jharkhand. He was arrested from Kathikund Police Station area in the same District on July 25.

Posters of the CPI-Maoist were found in Ghaghra area of Gumla District. The posters urged people to wage a war on "feudal forces" and asked Police to stop offensives.

Police and administrative officials recovered Naxal literature and newspaper cuttings related to Naxal movement from an under trial, Mahesh Mahto, during a raid at Ghatshila sub-jail in East Singhbhum District.

Barkagaon Police arrested four JPC cadres following raids at Barkagaon and Katkumdag in Hazaribagh District. They also seized two pistols, five live cartridges, four mobile phones along with SIM-cards, a JPC leaflet and one receipt book issued by the committee. The arrestees are identified as Suraj Singh, Shankar Ram, Md Asirullah Ansari and Intaf Ansari alias Jugnu. According to SP, Anup Birtharay on July 22, the four opened fire on a bus ferrying employees of Triveni Sainik Company to Hazaribagh, when the vehicle was passing through the dense forests of Fatah under Katkumdag Police Station of the District. He added that the company was engaged in extracting coal from the Pakri Barwadih colliery project of NTPC Limited. Police registered two cases at Barkagaon and Katkumdag Police Stations against the cadres. JPC is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

Police arrested one PLFI cadre from Palkot block headquarters in Gumla District, when he was fleeing to Ranchi. The arrested PLFI cadre was identified as Jasmindar Singh alias Jassi, a resident of Sanbotha village under Kolebira Police Station of bordering Simdega District. He is wanted in at least three cases, SDPO of Basia, Bachandeo Kujur said. Jassi was a squad member of PLFI 'area-commander' Mukesh Baraik who was arrested earlier, he said. Jassi was involved in torching JCBs which belonged to Sumit Keshri, a contractor at Banaidega village in Palkot, on May 30 and June 6 this year, Kujur said. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

Jharkhand Police arrested a 'Zonal Commander' of the TPC, Anish alias Karampal Ganjhu (28), arrested from Gerua in Sadar Police Station area of Chatra District. TPC is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist. Police recovered a carbine, two live bullets, three phones and a SUV from Anish. He was carrying INR 1 million on his head.

Two landmines weighing 12 kilogram each, planted by CPI-Maoist cadres to target SFs were recovered during a search operation from Manatu area in Palamau District.

The movement of trains on the Howrah-Mumbai route was hit after cadres of the CPI-Maoist put up banners and posters on railway tracks near Mahadevshal Station in West Singhbhum District under Chakradharpur division of South Eastern Railway. According to Railway sources, security personnel of RPF went to the spot and recovered a couple of banners and posters.

One cadre of the JSJMM, a CPI-Maoist splinter group, was arrested during a raid in Ambatoli area of Barkagaon Police Station in Hazaribagh District. Police seized two carbines, one pistol and four live cartridges of .315 from the spot. SP, Anup Birtharay said the arrest came after eight JSJMM cadres, led by its supremo Nishant ji, attacked members of a company engaged in the construction of a 40 kilometres road between Barkagaon and Urimani coal mining project of Central Coalfields Ltd. The SJMM cadres threatened to stop the road construction if the company failed to pay a hefty amount of money as 'levy'. The SP added that it was for the first time that SJMM cadres, who were active in Latehar and Gumla, entered the Hazaribagh District and targeted a road construction company.

District Police recovered 4,225 detonators and two rifles from a CPI-Maoist hideout in a forest near Hesag village under Bagru Police Station area in Lohardaga District. SP, Kartik S. said Police acted on a tip-off about the movement of wanted Maoist leader Sudhakaran and 'zonal commander' Ravindra Ganjhu along with 45 armed squads in Hesag, Hasru and neighbouring areas of Lohardaga.

District Police arrested a 'sub-zonal commander' of TPC-1, a breakaway group of TPC, from Cherwadih village under Bhawnathpur Police Station in Garhwa District. Police also recovered one country made rifle loaded with two cartridges and a mobile phone from his possession. According to Garhwa SP, Mohamed Arshi, Police had received a tip-off that TPC one 'sub-zonal commander' Chotu Singh Kharwar alias Ajay Kumar Singh alias Ajay Singh Kharwar and his associates were sheltering in Cherwadih village near school, a joint team of Bhawnathpur Police led by OIC, Anil Kumar raided there. Chotu was arrested while his associates managed to escape. Arrested Chotu was involved in about one dozen Naxal violence cases including murder, attempt to murder, extortion etc, SP added. Chotu joined the CPI-Maoist squad in 1999. Later, he joined TPC one and made the chief of the District. Besides this he was also wanted to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Palamu Police in several cases, SP informed. TPC is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

Jharkhand Police recovered a five Kilogram can bomb and eight detonators from Khokro village on the foothills of Dalma at Patamda in Naxal affected East Singhbhum District. Later, patrolling was stepped up in and around Dalma.

A paralytic cadre of the CPI-Maoist, identified as Bachhan alias Perwin of Amhee village in Hussainabad Police Station was arrested by Jharkhand Police on August 13 and was produced before Palamau District court. Bachhan was sent to Central Jail Daltonganj. Sources said Bachhan is the first paralytic or disabled CPI-Maoist cadre to have been caught and jailed. He has facial paralysis.

One Sanjay Singh (30), a former cadre of JJMP, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, was killed by his erstwhile cadres of JJMP at Sadwadih village under Manika thana area in Latehar District. Originally from Panki in Palamau, Sanjay left the JJMP with its weapons and cash. JJMP cadres got wind of his arrival in Sadwadih and planned his murder, Police said.

Four cadres of CPI-Maoist, including a 'sub zonal commander' in the squad of infamous CPI-Maoist politburo member Sudhakaran of Telangana, surrendered before Police in Lohardaga District. The surrendered Maoists are identified as 'sub-zonal commander' under Sudhakaran's squad, Balak Kherwar alias Bhagatji (28), 'area commander' Ajay Oraon (21), Brahmadeo Kherwar and Shivam Kherwar. Balak Kherwar and Ajay Oraon carried INR 500,000 and INR 200,000 on their head respectively.

An exchange of fire took place between the cadres of the PLFI, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, and Simdega Police at the hilly areas of Thethainagar forest in Simdega District. Police arrested a PLFI cadre after he sustained a bullet wound on a leg. A carbine, two double-barrel guns and cartridges were recovered from him.

A joint team of CRPF Police recovered 13 landmines from Langdi Ghati forest in Bandi Panchayat area of Koderma District. SP, Surendra Jha said that all the landmines were destroyed.

PLFI's Porahat 'area commander' Mathias Tuti alias Mangra Tuti (28) was arrested from Mangalore at Dakshina Kannada District in Karnataka on August 13 and brought to Chaibasa in West Singhbhum District.

Police arrested four TPC cadres from the outskirts of Ramgarh District. TPC is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

District Police and CRPF, arrested two PLFI cadres, identified as Roshni Bhengra and Prafulla Lugun, from Thethaitangar in Simdega District. Police also recovered weapons from their possession. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

CM Raghubar Das said that Naxalism is on the verge of extinction in the State and invited investors in the country and abroad to invest in it assuring them of full support and security. CM Das stated that the State Government will take action if any such attempt was made by them (Naxals). He was addressing the second 'ground breaking ceremony' of 'Momentum Jharkhand', a Global Investors Summit at Jamshedpur in East Singhbhum District.

A joint team of District Armed Police and CRPF recovered six bombs suspected to be planted below a road by the Naxals targeting SFs from a hilly area during search operation in Palamau District. Two cylinder bombs of 20 kilograms each, two can bombs of 10 kilograms each and two 10 kilograms IEDs were found from Chinia Pahar near Rania-Masuria village under Manatu Police Station in the District.

In a joint operation, Hazaribagh Police and CRPF arrested three cadres of TPC from Chanaro forest area under Charhi block in the Hazaribagh District. TPC is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist. The arrested TPC cadres were identified as Rahul Ganjhu, Nitesh Ganjhu and Prakash Ganjhu. SFs also recovered two country made pistols, some live cartridges and Naxal literatures from them.

The CPI-Maoist cadres killed one Rakesh Mahto (40) on the suspicion of being a 'Police informer' at Khakhanda village under Mahuatand Police Station in Bokaro District. According to Gomia Circle Police Inspector, Rajesh Kujur, prior to his murder the Maoists had accused him of working as a 'Police spy' as stated on their poster. The posters read, "Police dalal Rakesh Mahto ko mrityudand diya gaya" (Police agent Rakesh Mahto is awarded death sentence) and "Police dalal ko chun chun kar maut ka saja denge" (police spies will be hounded and killed). OIC, P.C. Devgan said preliminary evidence suggested murder by CPI-Maoist rebels.

SFs exchanged fire with CPI-Maoist cadres in Palamau District. ASP, (operations), Arun Kumar Singh, said, "There was a tip off about Nitesh. His contingent was near the foothills of Ghurghurya. As our Security Forces reached there came firing from the Maoists' side. It was repulsed with tact and discretion." No casualty or injury on the side of the SFs was reported. Palamau police recovered a semi-automatic rifle, cartridges, medicines, phones, wires and ropes from Ghurghurya Pahar after the encounter with Maoists of 'sub-zonal commander' Nitesh Yadav squad.

A STF team led by Ranchi SSP, Kuldeep Dwivedi arrested Ramesh Turi, a cadre of TPC, from McCluskieganj in Ranchi District. TPC is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

A brother, B. Narayan, and a close business aide, Satyanarayan Reddy, of the CPI-Maoist leader Sudhakar (50) were arrested in Ranchi District. Police recovered INR 2.5 million in cash and half kilogram of Gold biscuits worth INR 1.2 million. Police also recovered two gold watches, Naxal literature, ATM and PAN cards and a calculator from the duo.

PLFI 'area commander' Amrit Aind was arrested from Simdega District. An AK-47 rifle, cartridges and a backpack were found on him. Aind was involved in an encounter with the Police in Bano on April 8 that killed the then OIC Vidyapati Singh and Constable Turam Biruli, SP, Rajeev Ranjan Singh said. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

SP Ashwini Kumar Sinha was informed about three PLFI cadres collecting 'levy' under Karra Police Station area in Khunti District on behalf of their 'commander' Akhilesh Gope. A Police team spotted the three rebels on a bike near Kulhutu Chowk who tried to speed away. The trio, who were chased and arrested, was identified as Vijay Nag, Rajesh Gope and Manoj Mahto. Levy amounts worth INR 30,000, PLFI pamphlets and four phones were recovered from them.

Two cadres of JSJMM, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, were arrested from Chandwa Police Station area of Latehar District. Following a tip-off, about JSJMM cadres had assembled near CCL's Sikni colliery in Chandwa Police Station area; a team led by SP Dhananjay Kumar Singh conducted a raid and arrested Sandip Kherwar and Suraj Kishore Prasad. Two country-made pistols, cartridges, a mobile phone and a backpack were found on them. "Sandip is from Gumla and Suraj is from Latehar. Suraj has been to jail in the past," the Latehar SP added.

Khunti Police arrested a cadre of the CPI-Maoist, Sohrai Pahan (35) from Lebed village under Arki Police Station in Khunti District. Pahan was wanted in eight murder cases, abduction, loot and others.

An exchange of fire took place between Simdega Police and a group of PLFI cadres led by its supremo Dinesh Gope at Bano Police Station in Simdega District. A search operation led to the recovery of three motorcycles, 12 mobile phone chargers, one switchboard, bags, mats and other items. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

Five armed cadres of the PLFI, who were planning to target road construction sites for 'levy', were arrested by Police at a forested patch of Lukaia Dodha under Chanho Police Station area in Ranchi District. The arrested cadres were identified as Krishna Yadav alias Sultan (25), Vinod Yadav (28), Narendra Prasad Yadav (27), Bajrang Yadav (20) and Devendra Yadav (19). Police recovered four firearms, 11 live bullets, two sharp weapons, INR 21,000 in cash, a stolen bike and a PLFI letterhead from the cadres.

Police destroyed a camp of the CPI-Maoist at Dururai jungle under Gua Police Station limits in West Singhbhum District. SP, Anish Gupta said a Naxal leader Sandeep who is regional 'area committee member' of the CPI-Maoist was holding a camp. As the Police and Paramilitary Forces raided the camp, about 40 rebels who were present there fled. Later the Police recovered 100 rounds of cartridged of AK 47, one can bomb, detonators, a cell phone and rebel literatures from the destroyed camp. The SP said they later detonated the can-bomb which weighed 10 kilograms. Meanwhile intelligence sources maintained that the Naxals have once again started influencing the local residents to come to the fold of the Naxalism, said a senior intelligence officer. He said the rebels are targeting areas in Sonua, Goelkera and Porahat region of West Singhbhum. The intelligence sources also maintain that most of the Maoists who were in Saranda forest have shifted to the adjoining Sundargarh District in Odisha and several others hid themselves at the villages in Saranda in the guise of cultivators.

SFs recovered three IEDs, weighing three Kilogram each during an anti-Naxal search operation at Chhipadohar in Latehar District. The IEDs were later defused by bomb squad.

Two cadres of PLFI, including a woman cadre, were killed in a joint operation by the SFs comprising of CRPF and DRG, at Kantabandatoli hill under Gudri Police Station in West Singhbhum District. According to Police, the spot where the encounter took place is close to the border of Khunti District's Rania Police Station, which is considered to be a PLFI stronghold. After the encounter, Police recovered one 9mm carbine and double-barrel gun, cartridges of both the carbine and double-barrel gun from the spot along with the dead bodies. Besides, Police have also recovered a cell phone. The identity of the cadres is yet to be identified. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

An exchange of fire took place between SFs and CPI-Maoist cadres near the forest of Sonua block in West Singhbhum District. A senior Police official said that the Naxals are trying to regain their lost areas in the West Singhbhum District area. They have changed their strategy and are even trying to recruit children and girls in regaining their position in the tribal-dominated West Singhbhum blocks. West Singhbhum SP, Anish Gupta confirmed that a squad of Naxals opened fire on the SFs involved in routine patrolling.

The DAP and CRPF during a joint operation arrested two armed cadres of the CPI-Maoist under the jurisdiction of Arki Police Station in Khunti District. The arrested cadres were identified as Ganesh Lohra and Sanika Munda.

The cadres of the CPI-Maoist opened fire on SFs from the hills in forest between the villages Machalda and Karamda under Sonua block in West Singhbhum District. Following the incident, the SFs started a massive combing operation at Sonua block and adjoining areas in West Singhbhum to flush out Naxals who are trying to make their presence felt. A senior Police official said that the Naxals are trying to regain their lost areas in the West Singhbhum area. They have changed their strategy and are even trying to recruit children and girls in regaining their position in the tribal-dominated West Singhbhum blocks.

A middle-aged couple Amush Kerketta (47) and wife Catherine (42) were shot dead allegedly by PLFI cadres at Konsa village in Kamdara Police Station area in Gumla District. The rebels left behind a pamphlet alleging Amush was a 'police informer'. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

A tea stall owner, Sudhram Brijia, abducted three days ago (September 17), was killed by the cadres of CPI-Maoist near Netarhart Sunset Point in Latehar District. CPI-Maoist cadres alleged Sudhram as 'Police informer'. On being informed of the incident, a Police team led by DSP, Omprakash Tiwari and OIC of Netarhart Police Station Alok Dubey rushed to the spot and recovered the body. Police said as per a chit recovered from the spot, the CPI-Maoist cadres has "owned the responsibility" for killing Brijia. Police launched a massive search operation to track down the Maoists.

Ranchi Police arrested two cadres of CPI-Maoist, identified as Sushil Munda and Etwa Mahli, from Bundu in Ranchi District. The CPI-Maoist cadres were wanted in seven cases since 2003 Police recovered a gun from them.

CRPF and Police destroyed a CPI-Maoist camp at Saranda forest in West Singhbhum District. The Maoists opened fired at the SFs, ensuing an exchange of fire, as they (SFs) approached near their (Maoist) camp. "Maoist leaders and other cadres managed to escape in the dense forest taking benefit of the night," a CRPF officer said. The SFs recovered 10 51MM mortars, safety caps of mortars, single barrel gun, electric detonators, live ammunitions, bomb making materials, Maoist uniforms, Jharkhand Map, Naxal literature and daily usage material, during the search operation.

One CPI-Maoist cadre, identified as Kalicharan Munda, was arrested from Tamar Police Station area in Ranchi District. Munda was wanted in eight cases of Maoist violence registered at different Police Stations of Ranchi and Khunti Districts.

UMHA Rajnath Singh while addressing an event to mark the CM Raghubar Das Government's 1,000 days said that Naxals create hurdles in the path of development and the Centre is committed to rooting out the menace at Dumka District of Jharkhand. Singh added, "Naxalites give guns in the hands of the children of the poor and create hurdles in the development of remote areas. They try to misguide the poor and the tribals. They do not give guns to their own children. We have ended this. The Centre is committed to rooting out Naxalism from the country".

Jharkhand Police killed three cadres of the PLFI in an encounter at Kullatuttu forest in Simdega District. The SP, Rajiv Ranjan Singh told that acting on a tip-off that Dinesh Gope (PLFI Chief) along with his squad members had assembled in Tonia Kullatuttu to commit a crime, a Police team was sent. The PLFI cadres started firing on the Police team, forcing the Police to retaliate. Gope suffered injuries and flew from the site. The security personnel have recovered an AK-47, LMG, carbine and daily core items. The bodies of the three PLFI cadres have been recovered and are yet to be identified. PLFI is the splinter group of CPI-Maoist.

LWE Naxal posters, urging people to wage a war against soaring prices, were found in Murhu thana area in Khunti District. Police suspect the role of some Naxalite outfit.

Five JPC cadres were arrested by the Ranka Police during a search operation in Garhwa District. The Police team also busted the camp of the Naxal group, JPC. Police recovered one country made pistol, four live cartridges, two stolen bikes, Naxal pamphlet, Police uniform, five mobile phones etc. from their possession. They arrested cadres have been identified as Amresh Chaudhry, Sitaram Chaudhry, Chhotu Chaudhry, Arun Chaudhry and Dharmendra Chaudhry, all resident of village Danda under Danda Police Station. Garhwa SP, Mohammed Arshi said the arrested JPC extremists were demanding extortion money from 22 families of the newly appointed constables in primitive tribe battalion. They had demanded INR 400,000 and a son or daughter for the organisation from all the families. Extortion money was demanded from families who are living in Ranka Bhandariya Police Station area. JPC extremists sought extortion money after distributing Pamphlets. Amresh Chaudhry was the 'commander' of the JPC. After killing of JPC founder 'commander' Kuldeep Chaudhry organisation was dead. Amresh and Sitaram are making efforts to revive it through extortion of people. JPC is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

The NIA has arrested a Jharkhand ASI of Police in connection with the case of killing of MLA, Ramesh Munda, allegedly by Naxalites, in 2008. Investigations revealed that ASI, Sheshnath Singh, had provided information about the movement of Munda to the Naxals, an NIA spokesperson said. Singh has been sent to Policy custody till October 15, he said, adding that NIA teams had also conducted searches at four locations in Ranchi. Munda was shot dead in the Bundu town of his Tamar constituency in the Ranchi District on July 9, 2008.

Lohardaga District SP, Karthik S, said that he Maoists should surrender or to be ready for action. "Search for other 12 Maoists is still continuing. Those were included Sudhakaran, Nilima, Ravindra Ganjhu, Bhushan Yadav and others. They have no alternative other than to surrender. They must come forward and try to lead a normal life. They wander in jungles with arms in vain. Their family members also have to lead terrible life," said the SP. He added that in last two years as many as 16 Maoists have surrendered and 21 children were rescued from them. "15 times the Police have confronted with the Maoists whereas 16 big arms were recovered. 25 Maoists were given punishment after trail in court. The arrest of notorious Naxal Nakul Yadav was a milestone in this thread," he said.

Former Jharkhand minister Raja Peter (54) was arrested by the NIA, for allegedly masterminding and paying for the killing of his political rival Ramesh Singh Munda of JD-U in 2008 at the hands of CPI-Maoist. Peter, whose official name is Gopal Krishna Pater, was arrested following revelations by former Maoist 'commander', Kundan Pahan, during interrogation by the central anti-terrorism agency. Pahan (38), a former CPI-Maoist 'zonal commander' who surrendered before Jharkhand Police in May 2017, was a prime accused in Munda's murder. Pahan told NIA officers that Peter had paid the Maoists INR 40 million to eliminate Munda, then a sitting MLA of Tamar constituency in Ranchi District. Munda, who was previously a minister in Jharkhand's NDA-led Government by Arjun Munda, was gunned down by a group of Maoists during a school function on July 9, 2008. Two of his three bodyguards, a party colleague and a student were also killed in the attack.

District Police arrested five close aides of CPI-Maoist 'area commander' Maharaja Pramanik from Toklo Police Station area in West Singhbhum District. They have been identified as Meghnath Sahu, Jagmohan Tanti, Sudhir Munda, Sukhram and Balkishan Munda. West Singhbhum SP, Anish Gupta said those arrested had resorted to poster campaigning recently.

The Police arrested six PLFI cadres from two different places in the Khunti District. Acting on a tip-off that some active PLFI cadres have assembled at Balo under Murhu Police Station, SP, Ashwini Kumar Sinha constituted a Police team to conduct a raid. The Police team reached the spot and arrested three cadres, identified as Devendra Gope, Mangra Barjo and Linus Kundalana, the SP said. During interrogation the cadres admitted that they had assembled at Balo to hand over the organisations letterhead and a mobile phone to Bagrai Champia, the 'area commander'. The letterhead, a mobile phone and a motorcycle without a registration number were also seized, Sinha said. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

Three other PLFI cadres were arrested from Sawda village under Karra Police Station limits in Khunti District. The cadres were identified as Kisto Kashyap, Anand Munda and Anup Verma. The Police also recovered a motorcycle, two mobile phones and six PLFI leaflets from them.

Jailed CPI-Maoist 'commander' Kundan Pahan during interrogation by the NIA has revealed that he was given INR 50 million to kill former Jharkhand Minister Ramesh Singh Munda in 2008. According to Police, Pahan admitted to taking the contract given by former Minister Gopal Krishna Patar alias Raja Peter to kill the then JD-U legislator Munda. Police also said the deal was struck between the 'politburo' of the CPI-Maoist and Raja Peter. Along with Raja Peter, NIA has arrested ASI, Sheshnath Singh in the Munda killing. Singh was the bodyguard of Munda and he allegedly passed on information about the movement of Munda to Maoists.

Police arrested two CPI-Maoist cadres, identified as Sitaram Majhi (23) and Mahasingh Sardar (26) from Kalajore village under Kandra Police Station area in Seraikela-Kharsawan District. The Police also recovered a country-made pistol, two live cartridges, a can-bomb weighing 15 kilograms and 300 metres of electric wire for detonating the IED.

An IRB jawan was injured in an encounter with TPC, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, cadres in Balumath in Latehar District. Based on information that some Naxalites had assembled at Hundi village, DAP personnel had rushed to the spot last night. As soon as the team reached the area, TPC cadres started firing at the Police, forcing them to open fire in retaliation, SP, Dhananjay Singh said. One IRB jawan, identified as Vikash Kumar, received a bullet injury on his chest and was airlifted to Ranchi.

Palamu Administration and Police has put an embargo on the plots of land of 'sub zonal commander' of CPI-Maoist, Kundan Yadav alias Brahamdeo Yadav of Manatu, whose prime plot of land bought in Chak and Adourya villages of Daltonganj town in Palamu District. DSP, Heeralal Ravi said the administration has put an embargo on the plots of land of the Maoist whose kin in whose names this Maoist has bought land now cannot sell, cannot construct any kaccha or pucca building or structure nor they can do any agricultural activities. The DSP further said the total value of these plots of land in Daltonganj and in Manatu's two villages account for more than INR 2.2 million.

Palamu Police neutralised a new Naxal outfit of TPC-2, a breakaway group of the TPC, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist. A press release issued from SP, Palamu read that this outfit tried to extort money from the contractor of the Government polytechnic college under construction on State highway in Lesliganj Police Station's Basoura village in Palamu District. The new outfit, a group of 12 to 13 persons, having dubious past and role in the society, had olive green battle fatigue, which was worn by its cadres in turn in order to create an impression that they were of extremist outfit, the Police said. OIC of Lesliganj Police Station, Rana Jung Bahadur Singh said this outfit on October 14 reached one construction site in the area, assaulted a few workers there and looted one cell phone of the worker giving order to ask the contractor to speak to this outfit. OIC Singh said the outfit erred and it helped us most. Calls were made from the same looted cell phone. Police put that cell phone number and other details on its Technical Cell and finally succeeded in intercepting their conversation. Police got the location of the tower of the cell phone and then arrested Dharmender Singh who spilled all the beans and on his confession two others Jubair Alam and Chattu Bhuiyan too were arrested. Police seized the three olive green uniforms too along with a few cartridges.

A 'zonal commander' of the CPI-Maoist, identified as Buddhan Miyan alias Bhola ji was arrested and jailed in Palamu District, stated SP, Indrajeet Mahatha. Palamu Police, CRPF, made a combined effort led by ASP, operations, Arun K Singh, to track Buddhan Miyan down when he was going to Dalee village under Patan tehsil. He was remanded in judicial custody on October 24. Buddhan Miyan, who worked in the squad of Vyas ji a top Maoist, has 11 cases against him and he carries a reward of INR One million. The SP further said this Buddhan Miyan whose father is Rehman Miyan of Saraideeh village under Naudeeha Bazar Police Station went to Panipat also to eke out his living when he fell apart from CPI-Maoist. According to SP this Buddhan Miyan had had his arms and explosives training in the jungle of Tarchua in Bihar in 1998. Buddhan Miyan was jailed first in 2005 and after two years he came out and indulged in heinous crimes against police. There was a warrant of arrest pending against him since 2013 and he was walking down free.

Four cadres of the PLFI, including 'Area Commander', Maina Gope, were killed in an encounter with SF personnel in Khunti District. SP, Ashwini Kumar Sinha told that based on a tip-off that a group of PLFI cadres would arrive at Palsi village under Karra Police Station, a team of SF personnel were sent to arrest them. On seeing the SFs, the PLFI cadres started firing at them, prompting them to retaliate, SP, Sinha said. Four PLFI ultras were killed in the encounter and all the bodies have been recovered, he added. Four firearms including an INSAS assault rifle, a .315 bore rifle and a country-made pistol were recovered from the encounter site. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

District Police and CRPF arrested top CPI-Maoist leader, Motilal Soren alias Sandeep, a 'zonal commander' of the CPI-Maoist, carrying prize money of INR five million and wanted by Jharkhand and Odisha Police, from near a field in Latarkundrijhor village under Jetia Police Station in Saranda forest under Gua block in West Singhbhum District. SP, Anish Gupta confirmed the arrest at Chaibasa Police headquarters and said, "We acted on a tip-off that the Maoist leader was coming to Jetia to watch a football match. We had spread our team and deputed our sources. On getting information, a joint team of CRPF and District Police entered the field in the village. We could see a man sitting in a hut and watching the match. Our informers helped us in identifying him as the Maoist. He tried to escape but was caught. We recovered a loaded pistol and two highly explosives bombs from his possession." Motilal Soren (48), a resident of Giridih had a prize money of INR 2.5 million each from both State and Odisha Police and was amongst the 'most wanted' Maoists in the Police list after leading Chaibasa jail break in December 2014 (in which 13 Maoists had escaped).

Minister C.P. Singh's distant relative Gupteshwar Singh, whose wife is a mukhiya, was beaten up with sticks by TPC cadres at Nawgarha village in Vishrampur in Palamu District. The TPC also wanted Gupteshwar's mukhiya wife to pay INR 30,000 as 'levy' for building roads from panchayat funds. TPC is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

The JJMP cadres exchanged fire with the SFs in Manika in Latehar District. After the encounter, two JJMP cadres, identified as Chintaman Ganjhu and Kamlesh Yadav were arrested by the SFs. Chintaman is being treated for bullet injuries, while Kamlesh is being interrogated at an undisclosed spot in Latehar. Police also claimed, at least two more cadres sustained bullets and have intensified search in forests of Barwaia-Kumrahi in Manika where over 350 rounds were fired, 200 by the cadres alone. JJMP is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

A large number of Maoists' posters were found pasted at Saria area, Chichaki Railway gate, hotel, Chirua water tank, and other villages of Saria block in Giridih District. The posters in red ink appealed to locals to dethrone the local operation of "green-hunt" as well as Raghubar Das Government as it supports capitalism. The Maoists also raised voice against the domicile policy of the Government in the poster. They asked the villagers to get united against the "Operation Green Hunt" in which Police have been killing innocent villagers, they also appealed to the local people to organise Kranti Diwas. Saria SDPO, Deepak Kumar Verma said that Police have removed the posters which were pasted to instill fear among the residents. The Maoists have lost their domination here, he said. "We have intensified raids in the areas to nab the Maoists," added the SDPO.

A wanted CPI-Maoist cadre, Lakhinder Patar, was arrested during a joint combing operation by Seraikela-Kharsawan District Police and 196 battalion of CRPF from Bada Bandi village in Kuchai block of Seraikela-Kharsawan District. Seraikela-Kharsawan SP, Chandan Kumar Sinha, said that acting on a tip-off, the joint combing operation was carried in the forest area of Bada Bandi village. The Police said the team managed to arrest the Maoist cadre who identified himself as the aide to 'zonal commander' of the CPI-Maoist, Maharaj Pramanik. Lakhinder was wanted in connection with several murder and loot cases.

Four CRPF personnel were injured in a landmine blast triggered by the CPI-Maoist cadres near Latu village in Latehar District. "Four of our police personnel have been injured after a land mine was triggered while a patrolling party was walking through the Latu jungles during the ongoing anti-Maoist operation in the area," said Latehar SP, Dhananjay Kumar. The SP further informed that a joint team of State Police and CRPF were out for anti-Maoist operation and as soon as they reached near Latu village at 2:15 pm, Maoists triggered a land mine leaving four jawans injured. He also said that intensive search operation has been launched in the area to trace the culprits out. The CRPF personnel who got injured in the land mine blast were identified as Deputy Commandant HL Gangte, Radio Operator Nitish Pandey, Constable Deepak Singh and Gopaljee Yadav.

Two TPC cadres were arrested from Bantha forests in Kunda Police Station area of Chatra District. Following a tip-off on the presence of a TPC squad in Bantha forests, SP, Anjani Kumar Jha formed a team of State Police and the CRPF and arrested TPC 'area commander' Subhash Ganjhu and his close aide Kailu Ganjhu. "A carbine, a .303 rifle, a country-made pistol, cartridges and mobile phones were found on the rebels, both of which are natives of Bantha village. We were looking for them for a long time," Jha said. TPC, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

Two TPC cadres, identified as Ramlal Oraon and Sadwa Oraon, were arrested from Chandwa Police Station area of Latehar District. They are alleged to have killed school headmaster Vinod Baitha and torched his house in 2014 for refusing to pay a 'levy'. TPC, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

CPI-Maoist cadre identified as Kushal Munda was arrested from Murhu Police Station area of Ranchi District.

A Maoist cadre identified as Chhotu Besra was arrested from his residence at Chatra village in Giridih District.

At least eight SF personnel of the CRPF and the Jharkhand Police sustained injuries in an encounter with CPI-Maoist cadres, during which the latter exploded several IED in Burha Pahar area in Latehar District. According to the Police, around 2.15 pm, it was during the search and combing operations that Maoists exploded several land mines, following which there was fierce exchange between the SF personnel and the Maoists. "At least six personnel of CRPF and one each of district police and Jharkhand Jaguar sustained injuries in the explosions. Nevertheless, our forces continued with their operation during which many naxals are suspected to have been injured. Some could be dead also," Police said.

A CPI-Maoist cadre, carrying a reward of INR 100,000 on his head, was arrested under Penk Police Station limits in Bokaro District. Baldeo Manjhi alias Baldeo Kisku, a member of Navin Manjhi group- associates of the CPI-Maoist, was arrested by a joint team of CRPF and District Police during a search operation in the forest under Penk Police Station, CRPF Assistant Commandant Nitesh Singh Bhadoria said. Working on tip-off Security personnel had launched the operation in the Penk region, they arrested the rebel who was trying to escape, he said. During interrogation Manjhi accepted his crime and involvement in dozens of cases registered under different Police Station across the District.

District Police arrested a CPI-Maoist cadre, identified as Deepak Singh (22), from Kunda-Pahadi area in Gopikandar block in Dumka District. Deepak is wanted in six Maoist related cases.

A NIA team from Ranchi went to a Gumla guest house named Repose in Gumla District to establish that CPI-Maoist 'politburo' member Sudhakar's wife Nilima alias Madhvi, brother B. Narayan and aide Satyanarayan Reddy stayed there last November-December, when the woman fell ill. The NIA also suspect that Sudhakar's aides allegedly used this address as a transit point to amass information from cadres and collect 'levy'. However, findings from search at Repose in Gumla town, 95 kilometres from Ranchi, proved inconclusive. The NIA had taken along arrested trio of Satyanarayan, Sudhakar's younger brother B. Narayan and Gumla-based contractor-cum-aide Prabhu alias Mintu for identification but Repose manager Shantanu Singh could not be certain if any among the trio had stayed or come to their establishment last year.

An ASI, Ashfak Quarashi of the BDS and Mahendra Turi, a constable of Jharkhand Police were killed and three others were injured, when a bomb they were defusing exploded accidentally at Saria Police Station in Giridih District. The bomb was found during an anti-CPI-Maoist operation and a BDS was called from Hazaribagh District to defuse it. The injured are identified as Satyendra Sharma, Binod Upadhyay and Porai Oroan.

Akash Singh (24), an 'area commander' of the PLFI, surrendered before SP, Rajiv Ranjan Singh in Simdega District. Akash, who surrendered after Police of Odisha and Jharkhand mounted pressure on the outfit, has six pending cases at Bisra police station of Sundargarh District of Odisha, which include a double murder. This apart, eight cases of crimes including rape and murder in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum District and six more in Simdega District are pending against him. Akash of Kolebira area in Simdega had joined PLFI in 2012 after his friend Ratan Gope was killed by operatives of CPI-Maoist. After receiving training, he worked for PLFI in Jaldega, Bano and Tatotonia areas of Simdega. From 2013 to his surrender, Akash was 'area commander' of Anandpur area of West Singhbhum and Bisra area of Sundargarh. He was carrying INR 200,000 reward on his head in Jharkhand. The Simdega SP said it was an irony that Akash was working for the outfit while his father had served in the Police force and his twin brother is in the CRPF. "Akash also revealed that PLFI chief Dinesh Gope is destroying the future of local youths by recruiting them for extortion. He was forced to extort and pay `1.30 lakh to Gope to get a Sten gun," said SP Singh. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

The JJMP, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, made an extortion call to a stone crushing plant at Asehar under Panki Police Station in Palamu District. The 100 million worth of stone crushing plant is at Asehar under Panki Police Station 20 kilometres from the nearest Police Station Panki and 33 kilometres from the Police headquarters in Daltonganj. One Paramjeet identifying himself to be from JJMP outfit made calls to one of the members of plant management asking him to meet and finalise the issue (read money).

The CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze a tractor cum trolley in the buffer area of Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) near Budha Pahad in Latehar District. The incident took place in the contiguity of the Baresaad based sambhar enclosure. SP, Dhanajay K Singh said that the act was done by the Maoists as the site of the incident falls in their territory. Sources said that Maoists had identified the tractor which was, as the Maoists suspected, providing logistics to the SFs on hunt for Arvind ji and Sudhakaran ji, believed to be holed up in the Budha Pahad.

30 IEDs, seized from Budha Pahad in Latehar District, were defused by the BDS. The IEDs planted in series were seized by the SF personnel soon after the suspected CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze a tractor in Mounasilli under Palamau Tiger project in Baresaad Police station limit, the sources said. The Maoists have also stopped the construction work of a watch tower being set up by the forest department amidst ongoing anti-Maoist operation, they said.

Jharkhand Police arrested a TPC cadre, identified as Shyam Bhokta and seized INR 500,000 cash when he was on way to Balumath from Chatra via Panki in Palamu District. SP, Palamu, Indrajeet Mahatha stated, "A joint team of Palamu Police and Jharkhand Jaguar nabbed one TPC cadre Shyam Bhokta on way to Balumath from Chatra via Panki in Palamu and the joint team recovered Rs 5 lakhs in possession of this TPC cadre." On Shyam's revelation about a tunnel at Kekargarh, the joint team recovered one LMG, 307 bullets, four rifles one Lethe machine, transformer, welding machine and other articles all for making illicit arms. There were bullets of AK 47 and INSAS assault rifles too. The joint team also arrested two more at Kekargarh tunnel identified as Prem Sagar Mahto and Uchit Mahto. The SP said this tunnel (read cave) was used as a store cum manufacturing unit of TPC for illicit arms. TPC is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

A CPI-Maoist cadre and his two associates were arrested from West Singhbhum District, following an encounter with the SF personnel. SP, Anish Gupta said, the DAP had rushed to Boritika village in the District acting on a tip-off on the movement of the Maoists in the area, it is when the Maoists opened fire at the approaching security personnel, who retaliated. The Maoists beat a hasty retreat and the three were arrested while the others managed to escape, Gupta said. SFs recovered a gun and a pistol from their possession.

Jharkhand CM, Raghubar Das, speaking at the India Today Conclave 2017 in Kolkata, West Bengal, said that the state will be "Naxalism-free" in 2018. He further said the Police along with the ED have cracked down on those funding Naxal terror. As a result, many Naxalites have surrendered, he said. Simultaneously, CM Das said, the Government is working towards developing Naxal-hit regions. "I have visited many of these Naxal-hit areas," he said, and added that "people have supported development".

A CPI-Maoist cadre, identified as Junul Tigga (27), was arrested from a village in Tamar Block in Ranchi District. Tigga, who joined Maoists sometime in 2013, was operating in Khunti District, was a member of the armed squad of Maharaj Pramanik and Amit Munda who are currently operating in the Tamar-Bundu zone, was wanted for the murder of a Mukhiya and several robberies on NH 33. "He was arrested on basis of a tip-off that he had come to his village, Basukicha. Last year, he had murdered mukhiya of Jargo panchayat in Tamar Jeevan Singh Munda (38). Munda was dragged out of his home and then shot in the head. Maoist posters left near the body claimed he was killed for being a police informer," said Bundu, SDPO, K.V. Raman, adding that investigations had, however, revealed that Tigga had a personal feud with the mukhiya. Two of his associates allegedly involved in the murder, Rammohan Munda and Das Tirkey, were also arrested. No weapon was found with Tigga when he was arrested. But Police seized his mobile phone, which he had looted from a truck driver on NH 33 on August 23, along with INR 13,000 in cash, Police said.

A top 'zonal commander' of the CPI-Maoist and a 'strategist' Enul Khan alias Govind ji (52), who was wanted for killing at least two dozen security personnel in the red zone area of Jharkhand and Bihar, surrendered with a gun before the Jharkhand State Police along with a 'Commander' of the TPC, Roshan alias Ajay Prasad Sao in Latehar District. Govind had joined the banned left wing organisation as a regular cadre in 2005. Considering his strategy making capabilities, senior leaders of the outfit rose his ranks to 'area commander'. He was also member of the political wing of the CPI-Maoist. "He was wanted by Jharkhand and Bihar Police for carrying out attacks on joint security forces. He carried Rs 10 lakh award on his head," said Indrajeet Mahatha, SP of Latehar District. The SP added that Govindji in 2013 led a troop of Maoist cadres which had triggered a landmine blast killing eight security personnel including a SI rank officer in Bihar's Gaya District. Govind was also part of the Maoist team which ambushed joint SFs in Palamu in 2016. Six CRPF troopers were killed and several others were injured in the attack. Active since 2014, Roshan has been in jail and came out only in 2016 but he again became a Naxal. As per the surrender policy of the Government, Khan was given INR 1.1 million while Roshan got INR 50,000. Palamu, DIG, Vipul Shukla informed that Khan has 21 cases against him and was operating interstate, covering Bihar, whereas Roshan's tally was 24 of which 14 cases are registered in Garhwa District.

Unidentified armed Naxals killed Bhaiya Ram Munda (38), a local BJP leader and injured three others including the wife, mother and brother at Bagma village under Murhu Police Station area in Khunti District. Police said a group of 15-20 ultras belonging to an unidentified CPI-Maoist / splinter group reached the house of the deceased Munda in the night and opened indiscriminate fire in which he was killed on the spot while his wife, mother and brother sustained injuries. However, Police suspected PLFI ultras of being responsible for the killing. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

A joint team of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh Forces and Para-Military personnel are conducting a major anti- Naxal operation in Burha Pahar, located in Garhwa District, bordering Chhattisgarh to target and root out top Maoist 'commanders'. The Jharkhand Government has directed the local administration to evacuate Burha Pahar village, witnessing repeated bombardments following the heavy offensive over a month by the SFs.

LWEs cadres belonging to JJMP, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, slapped a forester of East Garu Range, was on his duty supervising an upcoming multipurpose tower there, in PTR under Garu Block in Latehar District. Sources said about two dozen JJMP cadres reached the work site of the tower and then on identifying the forester, S Pathak, there, they slapped him as a token of warning not to continue the construction of the tower. Sources said the JJMP cadres forbade the forester quite threateningly. The JJMP cadres demanded that prior to the construction of this tower permission from JJMP ought to have been taken. Sources said the JJMP is all for extraction of 'levy'.

State Chief Secretary, Rajbala Verma, and DGP, DK Pandey, held a review meeting in Garhwa District, to discuss strategies for the offensive, besides deliberating on the development projects the government is planning for the area. Jharkhand Government wants to liberate Burha Pahar from CPI-Maoists by December end. Jharkhand DGP, DK Pandey, warned CPI-Maoist 'commander' Arvindji, who is reportedly holed up in Burha Pahar, to surrender or be ready to face bullets. CPI-Maoists described SFs offensive, which started on October 29, as a conspiracy to displace locals from their Jal, Jungle and Zameen without resistance and paving way for construction of pending Kutku Dam, according to statement released by CPI-Maoist spokesperson for BJ-SAC, Gopal in Palamu District. SFs used light Bofors-like long-range heavy artillery gun to shell the area for four days from October 23 and put the blame on us, added Gopal.

768 roads of 1760 kilometres will be constructed in Jharkhand in five years as part of special plan for construction of roads in Naxal -affected States. The construction of roads under the PMGSY increased to 130-135 kilometres from 75-80 kilometres built daily, said Minister of State for Rural Development, Ramkripal Yadav.

Khunti Police arrested three cadres of the PLFI, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, for the murder of BJP leader, Bhaiya Ram Munda (38), in Murhu Police limits in Khunti District on December 1. The arrested have been identified as Achu Munda, Ladu Munda and Raja Ram Munda. A pistol and cartridges were recovered from their possession. The trio told Police that PLFI 'zonal commander' Prabhu Sahay had demanded INR 200,000 from a contractor engaged in a road project between Bagma and Goa villages in Murhu.

CPI-Maoist cadre, Krishna Ahir, was sentenced to seven years rigorous imprisonment by Ranchi High Court (Jharkhand) in a case related to murderous attack on Police Party in Hapadag-Burwadag forest of Anegada village under Bagru Police Station limits in Lohardaga District in 2014. Jharkhand Police had arrested Krishna Ahir on August 14, 2014.

The CPI-Maoist tried to make its presence felt by putting up posters in parts of Nawadih Block in Bokaro District, urging people to join their agitations. Sources informed, the posters were found in different villages including Pannk, Galohowar, Guniato, Parsabera, Harladih, Dhorjatard and other villages in Bokaro District, while some posters were also found in Khetko under the Nawadih and Bagodar Police Station yesterday (December 5) night but removed this morning, "Maoists are doing it out of desperation after a spate of surrenders and intensified offensive by SFs. Anti-Maoist operations are going on in Bokaro and we are ready to counter any rebel violence in presence situation, Police said.

Suspected cadres of the PLFI, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, set ablaze vehicles, including an earthmover, two tractors, and tents of labourers engaged in canal construction work at Basia under Basia Police Station area in Gumla District. The repair work of the irrigation canal between Tapkara Dam in Gumla and Suruda village in Simdega District is nearing completion. It is believed that the construction company's earthmover, tractors and tents were set on fire after the contractor did not pay 'extortion cash'. "We have identified the group involved in the arson. The culprits will be brought to book soon. Our raids are in full swing," Gumla SP, Anshuman Kumar said.

Police conducted a raid in Kumari forests under Bishunpur Thana area in Gumla District, and recovered various items used for making IEDs. During the search operation, Police recovered around 25 pressure cookers of different capacities, 85 lunch boxes, large plastic and steel containers, nylon strings used for booby traps and other such items used for making IEDs and laying landmine traps. "Our boys have penetrated deep into the forests. We will not let them (rebels) escape so easily. These recoveries were made after being tipped off by local people. This proves that local residents are no longer willing to extend logistic support to the rebels," Gumla SP, Anshuman Kumar said.

The District Police arrested a CPI-Maoist cadre, identified as Mangra Manjhi, from the forest area of Upparghat near Sishua village under the Pannk-Narayanpur Police Station in Bokaro District. The Police have recently held a series of operations in Upparghat and Jhumra areas. There was no recovery of any arms and explosives from arrested CPI-Maoist cadre. Mangra was active as a member of the local organisation squad which operates under Nawadih area committee of the CPI-Maoist. He was involved in the different cases and was wanted in Naxal-related incident which was filed in Nawadih Police station in 2014.

LWE cadres opposing road construction work, set ablaze six vehicles at Navani village under Ghaghra Police Station in Gumla District, and warned labourers against working without their permission. According to Police, the rebels of the PLFI, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, attacked a stone crusher unit belonging to a person, Arun Pandey, and set on fire six vehicles. The rebels also fired in the air and left a pamphlet claiming responsibility for the incident, Police said. The crusher was being used in road construction. Through the pamphlet, the rebels also appealed to labourers not to work on the crusher. The denial of 'levy' to the rebels is said to be the reason for the incident.

A joint team of Police and CRPF arrested three rebels of JJMP, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, following an encounter at Kanhara village in Charhi, around 30 kilometres from the Hazaribagh District headquarters. Two rifles and 100 rounds of bullets were recovered from them. One of the extremists is said to have sustained bullet injuries. Hazaribagh, SP, Anoop Birtharay said the injured rebel had been identified as P. Khan, while the other two were 'area commanders' Bhakhra Munda and Biga Paswan.

The Police recovered arms and explosives hidden by the Maoists from Sikid Jungle located on the border of Herhang and Manika Police Station area in Latehar District. Acting on information received by SP, Prashant Anand and Commandant of CRPF 11th Battalion Pankaj Kumar, the search operation was launched. The recovered arms include two cylinder bombs, five-five kilograms of two cylinder bombs, three pipe bombs, three bombs of corner type, five grenade bombs, 250 gelatine, 80 meter codex wire, six non-electric detonators, five meters of 10-10 kilograms Safety fuse, two native katta, 3 indigenous rifles of 315 magnum, one leather machine, four kilogram piece of iron and 86 pieces of M. seal and many pamphlets containing Naxal literature. The explosives were later disabled.

Railway employees recovered an IED, suspected to be planted by the Maoists, from a railway station in Latehar District. The IED was detected near the track between Chhipadohar and Barwadih railway stations in Latehar District at around 11pm. Officials said the timely recovery of the IED averted a major railway mishap as Delhi-bound Tata-Muri Hatia Jammu Tawi Express train (18101) crossed the track near Ukkamarh village within 20 minutes after the recovery. A CRPF team soon rushed to the spot and recovered cans, gelatin sticks, detonators and wires and foiled a Maoist bid to blow up the tracks.

LWE cadres opposing road construction work set ablaze two vehicles in Latehar District. According to Police, cadres of the PLFI, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, raided a private company involved in road construction work at Madhuamilan village under Chandwa Police Station area of the District. The private company is involved in road construction work of around five kilometres under the PMGSY. The rebels asked the labourers to leave and later set one tractor and one JCB machine on fire used for road construction, by pouring petrol. They also left a pamphlet claiming responsibility for the incident. The denial of 'levy' is said to be the reason for the attack.

Two imposters of CPI-Maoist were arrested from Ghatshila sub division in East Singhbhum District. The arrested Maoist imposters were identified as Laxman Marandi (35) and Chetan Soren (32), both residents under Tirin Police Station area in Mayurbhanj District of Odisha. The Maoist imposters were trying to extort INR 2 million from the son of a senior JMM leader and former Minister Champai Soren at Ghatshila.

Jharkhand Police arrested two cadres of PLFI, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, identified as Mata Bahanda and Ilisiya Hassa Purty during a search operation in Murhu Police Station area of Khunti District. Police recovered three double-barrel guns, a country-made pistol, cartridges, a walkie-talkie, PLFI pamphlets and letter heads, combat uniforms, backpacks, blankets, mats and other items of daily use, said SP, Ashwini Kumar Sinha.

Jharkhand Police sealed property worth over INR 10 million owned by Dinesh Gope, chief of PLFI in Ranchi District. "We have sealed an independent house located in Idalhatu and an apartment at Hehal today in Ranchi. Besides, a Santro and a Scorpio were also seized," said Khunti SP, Ashwini Kumar Sinha. The sealed property, he said, was worth over INR.10 million. The flat in Hehal was registered in the name of one Phooleshwar Nag, while the Idalhatu house was owned by one Dinesh Kumar Nag, Police said. "Gope's money, earned through levy and extortion, was used in construction of the two properties," said Sinha. Phooleshwar and Dinesh, he said, were a part of Gope's extended family. Gope's family members and relatives often stayed at the two accommodations here, Sinha said.

CPI-Maoist cadres blasted and set ablaze a mobile tower of a private company at Mirzadih village of Giridih District.

The SFs seized five IED's - each weighing 10 kilograms - suspected to be planted by the Maoists, from a forest in West Singhbhum District.

Police recovered CPI-Maoist posters at several areas under Madhubani Police Station area in Burha Pahar hills of Latehar District, criticizing the Police operations.

The Maoists had called for 24 hour Bandh in Jharkhand and Bihar. Shops were closed in Khunti, Latehar, Simdega and other Districts of Jharkhand. The Bandh called by CPI-Maoist paralyzed passenger bus services between Ranchi, Gumla and Simdega Districts. Coal transportation was affected in Ramgarh District, said Ranchi, SP, rural, Ajit Peter Dungdung.