In a significant victory for security forces, a hardcore Naxalite, Amit Handsa, carrying a reward of ₹10 lakh, was neutralized in an encounter in Chaibasa, Jharkhand. The operation took place in the Saranda forest, within the Goilkera police station limits of West Singhbhum district.

Acting on specific intelligence inputs regarding Maoist movement, a joint team of district police and paramilitary forces launched a search operation. During the operation, the Maoists initiated fire upon the security forces, who retaliated, leading to a fierce gun battle. Amit Hasda, also known as Aptan, a top cadre wanted in connection with numerous cases of violence and Maoist activities in the region, was killed in the encounter.

Following the gunfight, a thorough search of the area was conducted, resulting in the recovery of a Self-Loading Rifle (SLR), explosives, and other arms from the site. Police sources suggest that the Maoists were planning a major offensive in the region, which was foiled by the timely action of the security forces.

Amit Hasda was a notorious Maoist linked to several violent incidents in Jharkhand, including planning attacks on security forces and extortion.

In response to the encounter, security forces have launched a massive combing operation across the Saranda forest to locate and neutralize any remaining Maoist operatives. Officials have stated that the operation will continue until the region is fully secured and any remaining Maoist strongholds are eliminated.

Several weeks prior to this incident, security forces have been conducting sustained anti-Naxal operations in the Saranda region and adjoining forests, dismantling Maoist bunkers, seizing large caches of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and recovering weapons.

Earlier this year, in April, eight Maoists, including top leader Prayag Manjhi alias Vivek, were killed in a major operation in Bokaro district's Lugu Hills. At that time, police claimed that Maoist activities were primarily restricted to the Saranda jungles in Jharkhand, having been eliminated from other areas. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had previously stated the government's aim to eliminate Maoism from the country by March of the following year. He also appealed to Maoists to surrender and join the mainstream.