NewsGate Press Network

In Jharkhand, 15 Maoists were killed on Thursday the 22nd of January 2026 during an intense anti-Naxal operation in the Saranda forest of West Singhbhum district.

This followed an encounter with CPI (Maoist) insurgents in the LWE area (left wing extremists area).

Among those killed were dreaded leader Patiram Manjhi alias Anal, who carried a bounty of 1 crore rupees, and Rajesh Munda and Bulbul, each carrying a reward of 2 lakh rupees.

Media reports were quoting senior police official in the Chaibasa stating that  the encounter took place in the Jaraikela police station area. Arms and other materials were recovered from the site, while search operations are still underway in the forested region.