Other MoA event in Jharkhand, Saranda Forest, West Singhbhum District area, India on Wed 15th April 2026

On April 15, at least four Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres were killed and several others were believed to have been injured in an encounter between Security Forces (SFs) and Maoists in the Saranda Forest, in the Chaibasa area between Marang Ponga and Baliba villages under Chhota Nagra Police Station limits in West Singhbhum District of Jharkhand, reports The Jharkhand Story. A Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) Jawan was also injured during the encounter and was being airlifted to Ranchi for advanced treatment. His condition was reported to be stable. The encounter was initiated after a joint team of CoBRA, Jharkhand Jaguar, and District Police launched an operation on the basis of intelligence inputs regarding the presence of a Maoist squad led by wanted ‘commander’ Misir Besra, who carries a bounty of INR 10 million. However, official confirmation regarding the exact number of casualties was awaited, as dense forest cover and difficult terrain delayed recovery and verification operations.