Chatra (Jharkhand): Five Maoists including two members Special Area Committee (SAT), who were carrying a reward of Rs.25 lakhs on their heads, were eliminated in an encounter with security personnel in a forest under Lawalong police station of extremist-hit Chatra district today, police said.
Jharkhand police has launched a massive operation against extremists groups effectively and the outcome of the operation was positive so far.
As a part of the operation, the Chatra district police, 203 battalion of Cobra and 134 battalion of CRPF today carried out a massive search operation in Grahe forest following a tip off about assembly of top Maoists leaders.
The security personnel has conducted massive action on most active and ferocious squad of Maoists on Chatra-Palamu border.
Police had information that SAT members Gautam Paswan alias Arun and Ajit Oraon alias Charles, who were carrying a reward of Rs.25 lakhs on their heads, along with others have assembled in the forest and a joint search operation was launched.
In course of the search operation, the Maoists opened indiscrinate firing on the security personnel, forcing the law enforcing agencies to retaliate, police said.
The Maoists made a hasty retreat in view of mounting pressure on them. The security personnel cordoned off the area following the encounter and launched a massive search operation when they found dead bodies of five Maoists including Paswan and Oraon.
A big camp of Maoists was also smashed and recovered sophisticated firearms, ammunition and other necessary items.
The other three bodies were identified as members of Sub-zonal committee Amar Ganju and Ajay Yadav alias Nandu, both were carrying a bounty of Rupees five lakhs, and Sanjit Bhuiyan, a Sub-zonal member.
Police has seized two AK-47 rifles, one INSAS rifle, two rifles, hundreds of ammunitions and daily core itemsfrom the spot.
The dreaded Maoists leader Paswan has been causing damage to people and villagers for last two years, police said adding that his elimination as well as other leaders has drastically weakened the left wing extremists.
Earlier, the state police had succeeded to free Budapahad, once a stronghold of area of badala, and Chaibasa-Seraikela-Khunti tri-junction would also be freed from Maoists clutches soon.
Jharkhand police was determined to eradicate naxal menace from the state and continuing the anti-naxal operation.
