Jharkhand: CRPF jawan martyred in encounter; ERB Headquarters, bunkers of outlawed CPI Maoist demolished, IED found

In a massive success for the security forces in Jharkhand, a joint team of personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Jharkhand Jaguar (JJ), Chaibasa police and Commando battalion for resolute action (CoBRA) has successfully demolished the Eastern Regional Bureau (ERB) headquarters of the illegal Communist Party of India (Maoist) on August 11.

Per the information received, a joint team of security personnel were out on a combing operation in a forest under Tonto police station limits of Chaibasa of Maoist-affected West Singhbhum on Friday when a fierce gunfight broke out between the forces and the Maoist. It’s been reported that after a heavy exchange of fire, Maoist led by Misir Besra, a central committee (CC) member of the banned group, fled the spot.

After the firing stopped, security personnel discovered that the area was functioning as ERB headquarters, as 11 bunkers were traced at the spot. The personnel also unearthed a vast number of explosives, including a total of 17 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), Mortar ranging from 84 to 51 mm, directional IEDs, gunpowder, urea Sulfur, cane IEDs, arrow Bombay and ANFO (a class of explosives) from the spot.

It’s been learnt that the bunkers also had electric connectivity with as many as four printers, laptops and a generator for backup purposes were also installed in it. Lifesaving drugs, food items and other materials for daily use in large quantities were also seized by the forces from the spot. Additionally, pamphlets related to the banned group were taken from the bunkers. ” Union and state governments of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) immediately stop the attack on the Kuki Janjati of Manipur”, read the pamphlet recovered from the location.

A large banner related to the recently concluded Martyr Week of the Ultras was also recovered from the bunker. An appeal to the masses to attend the so-called Martyr ceremony on July 28 can be seen.

Jawan was martyred during the gunfight

Meanwhile, personnel of the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) unit of the CRPF 60th battalion was also martyred in the gunfight between the Maoist and the forces. The martyred Jawan has been identified as Sushant Kumar Khuntiya, a resident of Anandpur of Odisha.

He joined the CRPF in 2011 and specialised in bomb disposal; he was integral to several significant operations launched against the Maoist in the insurgency-hit Saranda region.

It is to be noted that the massive success of the security forces has arrived only a day after the Bihar police, in a separate operation, apprehended another CC member of the CPI Maoist, Pramod Mishra, along with his companion Anil Yadav from Gaya on August 10.

‘Information was being received about the movements of Pramod Mishra and Anil Yadav in the Tikari Subdivision of Gaya district with an intention of carrying out a big attack. Following the intel a special team was constituted who after verifying the intel raided and arrested Pramod Mishra and Anil Yadav’, informed Gaya police in a series of tweets on August 10.

It’s been reported that Mishra was arrested from Jarhi tola of Tikari block, where he had arrived to meet a relative. His associate Anil Yadav is a resident of the Asruian village under the Latua police station of Gaya. They are wanted accused, and several cases are pending against them; they are being interrogated, said police.

Pramod was considered the man behind the brutal Dumaria massacre of Gaya in 2021, where four members of a family were killed and hanged while the houses of the victims were set ablaze by the members of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), the armed wing of the proscribed CPI Maoist.

It is to be noted that during Interrogation, Mishra confessed to being a member of the CC and the Chief of the Eastern Regional Bureau of the banned outfit; it is being speculated that the operation in the Tonto Forest area was conducted based on inputs provided by Mishra.