Two Suspected Maoists Killed in Jharkhand Gunfight with Security Forces

Gunfight in Latehar District

In a recent confrontation in Latehar district, Jharkhand, two individuals suspected of being Maoists were shot dead during an encounter with security personnel, as reported by a police official.

Among the deceased was Pappu Lohra, who led the Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad, a faction associated with the Communist Party of India (Maoist). The other victim, Prabhat Ghanju, was believed to be Lohra's accomplice.

Lohra was on the police's radar with a bounty of Rs 10 lakh, while Ghanju had a reward of Rs 5 lakh, according to reports.

During the operation, a security officer sustained injuries from gunfire and has been transported to Ranchi for medical care.

The clash occurred as part of a coordinated anti-Maoist initiative involving the Central Reserve Police Force and the Jharkhand Police in a wooded area near the Latehar Police Station.

A search operation was initiated following intelligence regarding Lohra and his associates' presence in the forest, as stated by Palamu Deputy Inspector General YS Ramesh.

On the previous day, four suspected Maoists were killed in a similar encounter in Gadchiroli district, Maharashtra, near the Chhattisgarh border.

Earlier in the week, 27 suspected Maoists, including Nambala Keshav Rao, a prominent figure in the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), were killed in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district.

This year alone, nearly 190 suspected Maoists have lost their lives in confrontations with security forces. In 2024, the number reached 217.

Reports indicate that while many of those killed in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region were labeled as reward-carrying Maoists, some families contest these claims, asserting that the deceased were civilians.

The Union government has consistently pledged to eliminate 'Left Wing Extremism' from the nation by March 31, 2026.