Ranchi: Days after Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parisahd (JJMP) Chief Pappu Lohra and one other Maoist were eliminated in an encounter in Latehar district on May 24, another Maoist was killed in a gunfight with security forces on May 25.
According to reports, a gunfight broke out between the security forces and Maoists in a forest area in Dauna under the jurisdiction of Mauhadand police station of Latehar on late evening Sunday, leading to neutralisation of a hardcore Maoist.
The deceased Maoist has been identified as Manish Yadav, a cadre of the outlawed CPI-Maoist carrying a bounty of Rs 5 lakh on his head. The security team during the operation has also apprehended another hardcore Maoist Kundan Kherwar. He was carrying a reward of Rs 10 lakh.
The development occurred hours after security forces in a successful operation neutralised two hardcore Maoists belonging to JJMP, a splinter group of CPI-Maoist. They were identified as JJMP zonal commander Prabhat Ganjhu and Pappu Lohra.
A seasoned Maoist of the breakaway faction, Lohra was named in around 100 cases and carrying a bounty of Rs 10 lakh on his head. He was also named in a case related to murder of a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) deputy commandant.
The encounter took place during a search operation, resulting in neutralisation of both the Maoists. The Police also recovered arms and ammunition from the site of the gunfight.
“It’s a big day for all the security forces working in Jharkhand to eliminate Naxalism. JJMP Naxal group – along with its Supremo Pappu Lohra – were gathered in Latehar PS area for inducing violence,” said Amol Vinukant Homkar, IG Operations of Jharkhand Police.
“A police team was in a search operation in the forest area when the Naxal group opened fire – the police retaliated, and the encounter went on for a long time. Police later searched the area, where two bodies were recovered and another Naxal was injured,” he said.
It is noteworthy that the security forces have intensified anti-Maoist operations in separate states affected by red terror. Earlier the forces in a joint operation neutralised the general secretary of CPI (Maoist), Nambala Kesav Rao alias Basavraju in Narayanpur district of Chhattisgarh.
Basvaraju was considered the brain behind several deadly attack carried out by the Maoist group resulting in death of political leaders, civilians and hundreds of security personnel. The development marks a major blow for the unlawful outfit which is already in a weakened state following the demise and arrest of several of its top guns.
