Latehar encounter: Two maoist leaders killed by security forces; one soldier injured

New Delhi (India) May 24: A police encounter in the Ichabar jungles of Latehar on Saturday morning resulted in the deaths of two maoists, Pappu Lohara, the leader of the Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad (JJMP), and his partner Prabhat Lohra.

The encounter took place in a forest under the jurisdiction of the Latehar Police Station during an anti-naxal operation by the Jharkhand Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

Jharkhand police spokesperson and IG Amol V Homkar said, “There was an input in Latehar police station about JJMP movement by a team led by their supremo Pappu Lohra and others. Latehar SP [Superintendent of Police] Kumar Gaurav planned an operation along with the local Jharkhand police team.”

Palamu DIG YS Ramesh said, "Two Maoists were killed in a gunfight with security forces. The police have recovered their bodies." 

An INSAS rifle has been found on one of the group's injured members, who has been taken into custody.

Awadh Singh, a police constable, was injured in the encounter and is currently being treated at Ranchi's Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences.

According to police reports, Latehar SP Kumar Gaurav led the operation after receiving a tip that revealed a number of Maoists were hiding in the trees and preparing a major attack in the area. The police started a search and restricted the area in response to this intelligence.

The Maoists fired on the joint security force while they were conducting the search. Pappu Lohara and Prabhat Lohra were killed in the counterattack by the soldiers.

Pappu Lohara was carrying a prize of ₹10 lakh and Prabhat Ghanju was carrying a reward of ₹5 lakh.

The police said, "As the Maoists spotted the security personnel, they fired targeting them and the team retaliated. Lohra and another JJMP member, identified as Prabhat Ganjhu, were killed in the gunfight." 

Aadrika Tayal