At least one Maoist killed in encounter with security forces in Jharkhand

At least one alleged member of the CPI-Maoist’s PLGA was killed in an encounter with a joint team of security forces in Gumla district on Friday.

Maoist sources said that the dead individual is yet to be identified. “I was leading the team comprising district police, Cobra and Jharkhand Jaguar. The encounter, which took place near Sargaon village, began at 7.30 AM and lasted two hours. One body was recovered. I think 4-5 must have died on their side; they ran away with the bodies,” said Gumla SDPO Mohd. Arshi.

Maoist sources say the dead man was part of the PLGA team commanded by Nakul Yadav. The team was reportedly en route to provide assistance to a larger group that has been fighting a pitched battle with security forces since February 20.

Friday’s operation was part of an encounter that began on February 20 in the Chainpur block of Gumla, which falls on the district’s border with Chhattisgarh. Jharkhand’s most-wanted Maoist is reportedly injured and continues to be pinned down by security forces as a result of the operation.

Police say they do not have any information on Central Committee and Military Commission member Deo Kumar Singh, who uses the name Arvindji. Maoist sources, however confirmed that Singh was shot in the foot on February 20 and is still within Gumla. His team was reportedly moving from Chhattisgarh to Latehar when they were ambushed by members of the left wing extremist group Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad.

The JJMP allegedly retains good relationships with the Intelligence Bureau, which did not keep the state police in the loop about the ambush, which took place near. As a result, Jharkhand’s police officers were in the dark about the details of what could be a major success even late into the night that day.

Sources in the CPI-Maoist claim the JJMP had ambushed Arvindji’s reconnaissance team, which had gone into Siril village to establish contact. Since that day, Arvindji and a team of at least 200 fighters have been stuck inside Gumla’s forests, unable to escape to Chhattisgarh.

Source:: Indian Express