Ranchi, May 27: Security forces continued its spree of success against ultras in the state especially in the Latehar-Palamu region with the elimination of another top Maoist and injury to another during an encounter this time in Palamu district.
Police said that several weapons, including a ‘self-loading rifle’ (SLR), were recovered during the search operation after the encounter.
Police sources said that an encounter took place between security forces and Maoists near Sitachuaan area between the border of Mohammadganj and Haidernagar police station areas late on Monday night.
Palamu Deputy Inspector General of Police Y S Ramesh said, “The body of a member of the CPI (Maoist) has been recovered after a fierce encounter between security forces and Maoists in Palamu. The process of identifying him is underway.”
Later, another police official said that the body belonged to top Maoist commander Tulsi Bhuiyan. The official said that another Maoist Nitesh Yadav has been shot and a reward of Rs 15 lakh has been announced on him.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Ramesh, however, said that this is yet to be confirmed.
Security forces have launched a massive anti-Naxal operation here and three Maoists have been killed in the last few days, one of whom was killed on Monday.
Manish Yadav, a member of the CPI-Maoist, was killed in an encounter with security forces in Latehar district on Monday. A reward of Rs 5 lakh was announced on him.
Another Maoist Kundan Kherwar was arrested during the operation. Kundan, the self-proclaimed zonal commander of the organization, had a reward of Rs 10 lakh announced on him. Two X-95 automatic rifles and ammunition were recovered from his possession.
Earlier, on May 24, two Naxalites, including top Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad (JJMP) leader Pappu Lohara, were killed in an encounter with security forces in Latehar district.
A reward of Rs 10 lakh was declared on Pappu. Lohara and JJMP’s sub-zonal self-proclaimed commander Prabhat Ganjhu were killed during an operation on May 24. A reward of Rs 5 lakh was declared on Ganjhu. Both of them were killed during a joint operation of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Jharkhand Police in Ichchhabar forest area under Latehar police station area.
