West Singhbhum district has been declared Naxal‑free after four Maoists, including Rs 10‑lakh rewardee Saluka Kayem, surrendered before senior police and CRPF officials under Operation Navjeevan‑III.
At a press briefing in Chaibasa, DIG Anuranjan Kispotta announced that the surrender marked a historic milestone in Jharkhand’s security history. The Maoists handed over sophisticated weapons and ammunition, pledging to return to the mainstream.
Those who surrendered include:
- Saluka Kayem alias Bhubaneswar alias Vikram, a zonal committee member facing 96 serious cases.
- Kodomu Koda alias Kodam Munni Koda, accused in seven cases.
- Pinky Purti alias Sukanti Purti, named in 13 cases.
- Anita Tamsoy alias Anita Kayem, facing 13 cases across Chaibasa and Seraikela.
Recovered arms included an AK‑47 rifle, an INSAS rifle, two wireless sets, and 2,276 live cartridges, delivering a major setback to Maoist networks.
Operation Navjeevan has now achieved three successive breakthroughs: 25 Maoists surrendered in May, 14 in July, and four in the latest round, bringing the total to 49 surrenders since 2025. Officials credited community policing, health camps, and rehabilitation policies for eroding Maoist influence and winning local trust. With West Singhbhum declared free of insurgency, security forces have warned remaining cadres in Seraikela and East Singhbhum to surrender or face action.
