BOKARO: An intense gunfight between

security forces

and Maoist insurgents that began Sunday night on Luggu Hill in

Bokaro district

's Gomia block has resulted in the deaths of eight Maoists, according to the CRPF.
Troops recovered eight bodies along with a cache of weapons, including one AK-series rifle, one SLR, three INSAS rifles, one pistol, and eight country-made Bharmar rifles. No injuries were reported among security personnel. The firing has ceased, and search operations are currently underway.
Jharkhand police spokesperson Amol Homkar maintained a cautious stance, stating, "While we received information about potential Maoist casualties, final confirmation will only be possible after the operation concludes and forces return from the site."
The encounter began when a joint task force, comprising CoBRA, Jharkhand Jaguar, CRPF, and district police personnel, acted on intelligence about Maoist presence in the area. The ensuing operation led to a heavy exchange of fire with the extremists.

The security forces completely cordoned off the Luggu area, where they are reportedly engaging with a Maoist squad believed to be under the leadership of Central Committee member Vivek and Sahdev Sao.
Continuous gunfire was reverberating across Lugu Mountain as the operation intensified. The situation remains volatile as security forces maintain their strategic positions around the encounter site.
17 Maoists killed in separate encounter in Chhattisgarh's Sukma
In a separate incident, 17 Maoists were killed in an encounter in the forests of Sukma district in Bastar division of Chhattisgarh on March 29, 2025. Four security personnel—three from the DRG force and a CRPF personnel—sustained minor injuries in the encounter, and their condition is stated to be stable.
The toll of

Naxals killed

this year touches 132 in Chhattisgarh. The development comes a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bilaspur district in the state.
There are 11 women cadres and a senior-rank Maoist commander among those killed, and security forces have recovered a large cache of firearms from the encounter site.
Hailing the success of security forces,

Union Home Minister Amit Shah

on Saturday said, “Another strike on Naxalism! Our security agencies have neutralized 17 Naxalites and recovered a massive cache of automatic weapons in the operation in Sukma. Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi ji, we have resolved to eradicated Naxalism before Mar 31, 2026.”
Shah further made an appeal to Naxalites, “My appeal to those with arms is that weapons and violence cannot bring change: only peace and development can.”