In a major breakthrough in the ongoing anti-Naxal operations in the Kolhan region, a joint team of Chaibasa Police and the CRPF 60 Battalion carried out a successful operation leading to the recovery and safe disposal of powerful improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and suspected explosives in the forested terrain near Chitpil village under Toklo police station jurisdiction at West Singhbhum.
Acting on specific intelligence inputs received by the Superintendent of Police, West Singhbhum, the joint team was constituted under the leadership of Shivam Prakash, IPS, Assistant Superintendent of Police-cum-Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Chakradharpur. The operation was launched in the early hours of June 17, 2025, targeting forest and hilly regions along the Chaibasa–Seraikela district border, a zone known for frequent Naxalite movement.
During the intensive search operation conducted on the same day, the joint team recovered 14 powerful bombs that had been strategically planted by Naxalite operatives with the intention of targeting security forces. These IEDs, if triggered, had the potential to cause heavy casualties and disrupt the movement of patrolling units.
Further searches led the team to uncover a Naxalite explosive dump concealed in a remote patch of the forest. A total of 52 polybags containing approximately 52 kilograms of white powder, suspected to be ammonium nitrate, were recovered. The explosive substance was stored in a manner indicative of preparation for future large-scale sabotage activity. Keeping public and personnel safety in mind, the bomb disposal squad accompanying the joint team destroyed the recovered explosives on-site.
The security forces also completely demolished the Naxalite dump, eliminating a significant stockpile that could have been used for attacks on security convoys or to impede development activities in the area.
In connection with this discovery, Toklo Police Station Case Number 15/25, dated 17.06.2025, has been registered under Sections 191(2), 191(3), 190, 132, and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with relevant sections of the Explosive Substances Act (4/5) and Clause 17 of the Criminal Law Amendment (CLA) Act. Further investigation is underway.
According to official sources, top commanders and active cadres of the banned CPI (Maoist) group — including notorious names such as Misir Besra, Anmol, Mochu, Anal, Asim Mandal, Ajay Mahato, Sagen Angaria, Ashwin, Pintu Lohara, Chandan Lohara, Amit Hansda alias Uptan, Jaikant, and Rapa Munda — are actively operating in the Saranda and Kolhan forest areas. These leaders, along with their squads, are suspected to be mobilizing to carry out subversive acts and disrupt peace in the region.
In response to the growing threat, a coordinated task force comprising Jharkhand Police, Cobra Commandos, CRPF units, and the elite Jharkhand Jaguar team has been deployed across key infiltration routes and Naxalite hideouts. The administration has reiterated its commitment to maintaining law and order and ensuring the safety of citizens and security personnel.
Security forces have intensified patrolling in the Kolhan division, and further operations are expected in the coming days.
