The fight against Naxalism in India reached another decisive moment when security forces neutralised three dreaded Naxalites carrying a combined bounty of Rs 1.35 crore in the dense Pati Piri Forest of Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh district. Superintendent of Police Anjani Anjan confirmed this major development on Monday, 15 September, calling it a milestone in the continuing operations aimed at bringing the country closer to the dream of a Naxal-free India.

The three killed were not ordinary foot soldiers; they were among the most dangerous leaders responsible for spreading fear and violence in the region. Sahdev Soren alias Parvesh, who was a member of the Central Committee, carried the highest bounty of Rs 1 crore. His influence stretched across states, and he was known to be one of the masterminds directing attacks against both police forces and civilians. The second Naxal neutralised, Raghunath Hembram, was a member of the Bihar-Jharkhand Special Area Committee and had a bounty of Rs 25 lakh. He had long been active in organising local units, planning ambushes, and managing logistics for the outfit. The third, Birsen Ganjhu alias Ramkhelavan, a member of the regional committee, carried a reward of Rs 10 lakh. Though his reward was lower, he had strong influence in his area and played a critical role in keeping the Naxal network alive at the regional level.

This encounter came close on the heels of another operation in Chaibasa on 7 September, where a prominent leader of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), Aaptan, was killed in a fierce gunfight. Superintendent of Police Rakesh Ranjan said the slain Maoist was also known by the name Amit Hansda. He carried a bounty of Rs 10 lakh and had a shocking record of over 95 criminal cases registered against him. He was directly linked to the murder of several police officials as well as innocent civilians, making him one of the most feared Naxal commanders in the state. His death was considered a huge blow to the Maoist leadership in the region.

Police sources revealed that the Hazaribagh operation was launched after credible intelligence inputs on 6 September, which indicated that top Maoist leaders were planning to regroup, launch major attacks, and recruit fresh cadres into their ranks. Acting swiftly, the forces cornered them before they could execute their plans, preventing what could have been another wave of bloodshed.

In parallel, another major anti-Naxal offensive recently unfolded in the Gariyaband district of Chhattisgarh, where security forces eliminated 10 Naxal terrorists in a single operation. Among those killed was senior Naxal leader Modem Balkrishna alias Manoj, who carried a bounty of ₹1 crore. Manoj was not only a prominent face of Naxal violence but also a strategist known for coordinating several deadly attacks in the past. His killing in the encounter has been described as a turning point, as it removes one of the last remaining high-value targets from the battlefield.

Modi Government’s Promise: Naxalism to Be Eradicated by 2026

The government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a firm stance that the menace of Naxalism must end once and for all. In pursuit of this mission, Operation Kagar was launched in January 2024 as part of a comprehensive policy of zero tolerance towards Left-Wing Extremism. Unlike earlier limited crackdowns, Operation Kagar is a multi-pronged approach that combines aggressive ground-level security action with coordinated intelligence and development work.

Under this operation, nearly 1 lakh paramilitary troops have been deployed in the affected regions. The force is drawn from multiple units including the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), its elite CoBRA battalions, District Reserve Guards (DRG), and local state police. These men and women are now backed with advanced technology to ensure greater efficiency. Drones are being used for real-time surveillance, artificial intelligence tools are assisting in intelligence gathering, and satellite imagery is helping map the dense forest terrains where Maoists often hide. These tools have given the security forces a sharper edge, allowing them to act faster and strike more effectively than ever before.

The Union Home Minister has openly declared that Naxalism will be eradicated by March 2026. This is not a hollow statement, as numbers over the years have shown steady progress. In 2015, the country had 106 districts across 10 states officially marked as Naxal-affected. By 2024, this number had come down to 38, and it has now dropped further to 18. Importantly, the count of the worst-affected districts has reduced dramatically. While 12 districts were earlier categorised as highly impacted, today only 6 districts remain in that category. This statistical decline highlights how sustained operations and better coordination are shrinking the influence of Naxal groups.

After the elimination of Naxal leader Modem Balkrishna alias Manoj, who carried a bounty of ₹1 crore, Home Minister Amit Shah made a direct warning to the remaining Maoist cadre. He said that "the last remaining Naxals should surrender before the security forces soon, if they want to save their lives." His statement underlines the clear policy—those who surrender will be given a chance to reintegrate, but those who persist in violence will face the full might of the state.

The coordinated victories across Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, along with the sharp reduction in affected districts, signal that the vision of a Naxal-Mukt Bharat is no longer a distant goal but a fast-approaching reality.