Five Maoists killed in an encounter in Jharkhand's Chatra district
2 min read . Updated: 03 Apr 2023, 03:04 PM IST
PremiumThe encounter took place along the Chatra-Palamu border in Lawalong police station area, around 160 km from state capital Ranchi.
At least five Maoists were killed in a gunfight with security forces in Jharkhand’s Chatra district on Monday, police said. The encounter took place along the Chatra-Palamu border in Lawalong police station area, around 160 km from state capital Ranchi.
“Five Maoists were killed and several others suffered bullet injuries. The bodies of all the red rebels have been recovered," Chatra SP Rakesh Ranjan said. A huge cache of arms and ammunition was also seized from the spot, he said.
While speaking to ANI, Jharkhand Police said, “The five naxals killed include; Gautam Paswan and Charlie both were SAC members and carried a reward of ₹25 lakh each, Nandu, Amar Ganjhu, and Sanjeev Bhuiyan were sub-zonal commanders & carried a reward of ₹5 lakh each. AK 47, Insas rifles recovered. Further operation is on."
SDPO Ashok Priyadarshi said the gunfight started around 8.30 am.
“The seized arms include two AK-47 rifles and two country made rifles. The search operation is still underway," he said.
Priyadarshi said Maoist special area committee (SAC) member Gautam Paswan, who was carrying a ₹25-lakh bounty on his head, is thought to have been killed in the encounter.
“This is being verified," he added.
Earlier on Sunday, a joint team of police and DRG arrested three naxals in insurgency-hit Kanker district of Chhattisgarh. According to police, the arrested naxals were identified as Samund alias Suman Singh Anchala (42), Sanjay Kumar Usendi (27) and Parasram Dhangul (55).
"Acting on a precise tip-off about the presence of naxals, the joint team launched an operation and succeeded in arresting three insurgents from the forest under Koyelibeda police station limits," said Antagarh Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Khoman Sinha.
"The arrested naxals have been allegedly indulged in several incidents including torching vehicles engaged in construction works, setting towers on fire, and assaulting people by branding them as police informers and others," added ASP Sinha.
Prior to that, on 1 April, a Naxalite carrying a reward of ₹2 lakh on his head was killed in an encounter with C60 jawans in a forest in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district, officials told ANI.
(With inputs from agencies)