In an exchange of fire between DVF and PlFI cadres in Jarha jungle under Gurundia police limits, two PlFI members were gunned down and a cache of ammunitions was recovered from their possession on Saturday, revealed IG of Police, Western Range, RK Sharma.
According to Sharma, intelligence input had revealed the movement of 10-12 PlFI members in the area of Sirgirha, Barhakudar, Jarha and adjoining areas under Gurundia Police Station. On the basis of the intelligence, an operation was launched.
According to the plan, one unit of DVF consisting of 12 commandos led by SI Alekh Garda was to conduct SADO (Search and Destroy Operation) in the Sirgirha and Jarha forest. The PlFI members were holding a camp there.
On seeing the police party, they started firing. Even after team leader SI Alekh Gardia gave the identity as police, they continued firing. In the exchange of fire the police party neutralized two PlFI cadres. The operation took about half an hour.
Two bodies, suspected to be of Shankar Munda and his associate Bhaku Munda, were recovered. Further, two carbine guns fitted with magazines, two carbine magazines loaded with bullets, 56 live ammunitions, two empty cartridges, two air bags containing cash of Rs 54,000, three mobile phones and one motor cycle were seized from the spot.
From preliminary verification, the vehicle was found to be registered in the name of one Rajendra Ram of Ranchi, Jharkhand. They were active cadres in Odisha-Jharkhand bordering areas.
As per preliminary verification, Shankar was involved in 12 cases under various police stations of Sundargarh district and one under Manoharpur police station of Jharkhand. Most of them are bike and grocery theft cases.