Two Maoists Killed In Encounter In Jharkhand

Security forces killed two maoists including Jharkhand JanMukti Parishad (JJMP) leader Pappu Lohra, carrying a bounty of Rs. 10 lakh on his head and his deputy Prabhat Ganghu during an encounter in Jharkhand’s Latehar district on Saturday. JJMP is a banned faction of the Maoists active in Latehar and adjoining areas of Jharkhand. 

The encounter happened during an anti-naxal operation conducted by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Jharkhand Police, in a forest under the Latehar Police Station limits.

"Two Maoists were killed in a gunfight with security forces. The police have recovered their bodies," Palamu DIG YS Ramesh told PTI. Another member of the banned group was arrested with an INSAS rifle during the operation. 

According to reports, Lohras and his associates were in the area to conduct an offensive against builders and contractors. However, a tip-off of their presence in the area led a team headed by Latehar Superintendent of Police (SP) Kumar Gaurav to launch a search operation. 

During the encounter, a police constable also sustained injuries to his shoulder and was rushed to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences in Ranchi. 

"As the Maoists spotted the security personnel, they fired targeting them, and the team retaliated," the Palamu DIG asserted, as reported by PTI. The search operation is ongoing in the area.

The encounter comes a few days after at least 27 Maoists were eliminated on Wednesday in an encounter with the security forces at the Narayanpur-Bijapur border in Chhattisgarh, including key Maoist leader Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basavaraju who carried a bounty of over Rs 1 crore.