Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director General G P Singh conducted a comprehensive review of anti-Naxal operations in Jharkhand on Friday, meeting with the 209th Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) commandos who neutralized three Maoists, including a high-value target, in a significant operation in Hazaribag district on September 15. The operation aligns with the Centre’s directive to eradicate Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in India by March 2026.

The encounter in the Pantitri forests resulted in the elimination of three Communist Party of India (Maoist) cadres: central committee member Sahdev Soren, carrying a Rs 1 crore bounty, special area committee member Raghunath Hembram with a Rs 25-lakh reward, and zonal committee member Birsen Ganjhu, with a Rs 10-lakh bounty.

During his daylong visit from Delhi, Singh visited a private hospital in Ranchi to meet CoBRA commando Ajoy Bhowmik, who was injured during the gunfight, before proceeding to the 209th CoBRA camp to engage with the troops involved in the operation.

A senior CRPF officer reported that Singh reviewed the ongoing anti-Naxal efforts, which involve coordinated operations by the CRPF, its specialized jungle warfare unit CoBRA, and the Jharkhand Police. The CRPF, leading the charge against LWE across multiple states, has deployed approximately 20 battalions in Jharkhand to intensify this offensive. The September 15 operation reflects the force’s commitment to targeting top Maoist leadership in the coming months, as directed by the Centre.

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The 209th CoBRA unit has achieved significant success this year, eliminating over 20 hardcore Naxals in Jharkhand, apprehending three others, and seizing 32 sophisticated weapons, 345 kg of ammunition, and 2,500 live bullets. As the CRPF ramps up its operations, Singh’s visit underscores the force’s determination to meet the March 2026 deadline for dismantling the Naxal network, reinforcing India’s resolve to secure its internal frontiers.

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