A joint team of Chaibasa Police and CoBRA 209 battalion gunned down a senior CPI (Maoist) leader during an encounter in the forests of Goilkera in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district Wednesday morning.
Police said the militant has been identified as Arun alias Varun alias Nilesh Madkam, an area commander of the banned CPI (Maoist) outfit, hailing from Konta police station limits in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh. An official also confirmed that he carried a bounty of Rs 2 lakh on his head.
According to police, Maoist leaders including Misir Besra, Anmol, Mochu Anal, Aseem Mandal, Ajay Mahato, Sagen Angaria, and Ashwin have been actively moving with their armed squads in the Kolhan-Saranda region, allegedly plotting attacks on security forces and engaging in anti-national activities.
On August 12, intelligence inputs suggested that top Maoist leaders and various squad commanders, identified as Ravi Sardar, Jaikant, Arun, Sandeep, Shiva, Rishibh, Upton, Sanat, Amit Munda, and Bhuneshwar alias Saluka Kayam Somwari had gathered in Kolhan to execute a “major incident” ahead of Independence Day.
Acting on the input, a joint operation was launched by Chaibasa Police and CoBRA 209 battalion. Around 6 am on Wednesday, the forces came under fire in the hilly and forested areas near Dugunia, Posaeta, and Tumbagada under Goilkera police station limits, officials said. The security personnel retaliated, forcing the Maoist squad to retreat into the dense jungle.
During the subsequent search, the body of a male Maoist was recovered along with an SLR rifle, cartridges, and other daily-use items, officials said.
According to the police, Arun had a long criminal history, including involvement in multiple murders, kidnappings, attacks on security forces, extortion, and offences under the Arms Act, and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act across Goilkera, Sonua, and Tonto police station areas.
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The recovered weapon and materials have been seized, and further action is being taken in line with the National Human Rights Commission’s SOPs, police said, adding that the anti-Maoist operation in the region is still ongoing.
