Hazaribag: Security forces gunned down four Maoists in a gunfight in Khapia forest in Hazaribag district along the border with Chatra on Friday, police said.Hazaribag SP Anjani Anjan said that those killed have been identified as Shahdev Mahto, a regional committee member (RCM) carrying a reward of Rs 15 lakh and wanted in 41 cases; Ranjit Ganjhu, a zonal committee member (ZCM) with a Rs 10 lakh bounty and wanted in 9 cases; Natasha, a sub-zonal committee member from Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra involved in 17 cases; and Budhan Karmali, an area commander carrying Rs 1 lakh reward and wanted in 10 cases — 6 in Jharkhand and 4 in Bihar.Acting on specific intelligence inputs about the presence of senior Maoist members in the forest, security forces launched a coordinated search operation in the morning. The operation, ‘KotiNeer’, was carried out jointly by the 209 Battalion of CoBRA and state police.At around 1 pm, a Maoist squad opened fire on the forces after sensing their presence, triggering a fierce encounter. Anjani Kumar Jha, DIG of North Chotanagpur range, said, “Police were conducting search operation when the Maoists opened fire.
The police retaliated with success. There has been no casualty on the police side.”Mahto was a resident of Kuthan village in Hazaribag district, while Ranjit hailed from Satitand village in Chatra. Budhan was a resident of Godwar village in Chatra, while Natasha came to Jharkhand from Chattisgarh to strengthen the outfit.Following the encounter, security forces recovered a cache of arms and ammunition from the site.
The recovered weapons include two AK-47 rifles, a Colt AR-15 rifle and an Insas rifle. Apart from the firearms, ammunition, Maoist literature and daily use materials were also seized.Sources said that other Maoist cadres may have been injured in the encounter, and a search operation is still underway to trace them. Security forces have intensified combing operations in the area to prevent any regrouping of Maoists.Addressing the media in Ranchi, inspector general of CRPF, Saket Singh, said, “With the elimination of four senior Maoists, all members of the squad active in the Parasnath-Lugu-Jhumra area and the Hazaribag-Chatra border have been killed.”“Maoist should lay down their arms under the state govt’s surrender policy or else they would be either arrested or killed.Maoists still in the forests are causing a lot of difficulties for local villagers,” he said, adding that now 57-60 Maoists, including a 50-strong squad with politburo member Misir Besra, one in Chatra and three each in Palamu and Latehar are present.(With inputs from Sanjay Sahay in Ranchi)
