Major Blow to Maoists: Top Commander Sahdeo Mahto Among 4 Killed in Jharkhand Encounter

Hazaribagh: Security forces achieved a significant breakthrough against Left-Wing Extremism in Jharkhand on Friday, eliminating four Maoist operatives, including a senior leader, during an encounter in a forested area of Hazaribagh district.

The operation was carried out by elite units of the Central Reserve Police Force along with local police, following specific intelligence about the presence of a Maoist group in the region.

According to officials, the exchange of fire began when the Maoist squad opened fire on advancing security personnel. Forces retaliated, leading to a brief but intense encounter that lasted for about half an hour, resulting in the deaths of four insurgents.

Among those killed was Sahdeo Mahto, also known by an alias, who was considered a key regional figure within the Maoist hierarchy. He had previously escaped from custody during a jailbreak incident in Chaibasa in 2011.

Other casualties included a woman cadre associated with the group and two area-level commanders, officials said.

Following the operation, security personnel recovered a cache of weapons from the encounter site. These included assault rifles such as AK-series weapons, an AR-15 rifle, and an INSAS rifle, indicating the group’s firepower.

Officials said the mission was launched based on precise intelligence regarding the movement of the Maoist squad in the forest region under the Keredari block. The success of the operation is being seen as a major setback for insurgent activities in the area.