Chaibasa/Bhubaneswar, Sep 8: Notorious Maoist leader Amit Hasda alias Aaptana was killed during a fierce encounter with the security personnel in Saranda forest region near the Odisha–Jharkhand border.

Based on specific intelligence inputs, Chaibasa police along with the CRPF’s Cobra 209 Battalion jointly conducted a combing operation. The gun battle erupted in Relaparal forest area under Goilkera police station, where Maoists opened fire on the security forces.

In retaliation, Aaptana was neutralised while several of his associates managed to flee.

An SLR rifle, ammunition, and daily-use items were also seized from the site.

Aaptana, a resident of Bokaro district, had a Rs 10 lakh bounty on his head and was wanted in over 96 Maoist-related violent incidents across West Singhbhum and surrounding districts. His criminal record includes the 2014 Chaibasa jail break, the murder of five police personnel in Kukdu, and a deadly attack on former MLA Gurucharan Nayak.

Aaptana played a key role in aiding Maoist escapes and orchestrating attacks on security forces and public figures.

Security forces have intensified search operations in the forested terrain to locate remaining insurgents and dismantle Maoist strongholds.