Massive anti-naxal offensive launched in Dalma Forests
Pioneer News Service
Jamshedpur
The dense forests of Dalma in East Singhbhum have become the centre of one of the largest anti-Naxal operations in recent years, with security forces launching a massive joint search to track down two senior Maoist leaders believed to be hiding in the region.
More than 300 personnel from the CoBRA battalion, Jharkhand Jaguar and other security forces began an extensive combing operation on Friday following intelligence inputs that Asim Mandal alias Akash, carrying a ₹1 crore bounty, and Ramprasad Mardi alias Sachin, carrying a ₹15 lakh reward, had taken shelter in the Dalma forests after fleeing intensified operations in West Singhbhum.
Security forces have cordoned off large stretches of the Dalma forest, maintaining strict vigil over all possible escape routes. The Jharkhand-West Bengal border adjoining the hilly terrain has also been sealed to prevent the suspected Maoists from fleeing the area.
Armed personnel are carrying out intensive searches through the difficult forest terrain using advanced weapons and surveillance equipment.
The latest operation comes after sustained anti-Naxal campaigns, including Operation Medhaburu, in the Saranda and Kolhan forests, which have significantly weakened Maoist activities in the region.
Security agencies believe mounting pressure in Saranda forced several senior Maoist operatives to relocate to the Dalma forests spanning the Bodam and Patamda areas near the Jharkhand-West Bengal border.
Officials described the ongoing exercise as one of the largest coordinated anti-Naxal operations ever conducted in the Dalma region, which has long been regarded as challenging terrain and a potential hideout for insurgents.
Teams are systematically combing the forests while maintaining close coordination to prevent any escape.
Security officials believe that the successful capture or elimination of the two wanted Maoist leaders would deal a significant blow to the insurgent network operating in East Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan, further weakening extremist activities in the Kolhan region. The operation is continuing, with security forces maintaining a high state of alert across the forested areas.
