It is now a changed scenario in latehar. CPI Maoists are on the run while a splinter group of extremists, Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad (JJMP ), is taking on the security forces but the result is proving too devastating for them - on Wednesday night, a JJMP Naxal was killed in an encounter.
Parshant Anand, SP latehar, and his team of cops and officials, both of DAP and JJ (Jharkhand Jaguar), on Thursday morning found the body of the ultra, identified as Guddu Yadav of Koi village, at the encounter site near Bendi, 10 km off latehar police station. The encounter had taken place on Wednesday night at around 7 between the joint team of DAP latehar – Jharkhand Jaguar and the JJMP Naxals.
Jadav had full winter protective gear and a highly sophisticated weapon with belt across his waist to have the back pouches aid sources.
The SP latehar said, “On Wednesday evening JJMP ultras were descending from a nearby hillock and our men were going up when this encounter took place in which JJMP lost its man Yadav and left behind 10 weapons.”
Anand said the tally of recovered weapons is most impressive like one AK 47, two Insaas rifle, one SlR , .303 bore two rifles, American rifle two and 315 bore rifle 2. Anand said all these weapons are regular.
Sources said this is the biggest ever haul of weapons of Naxals in the past 15 years in latehar.
The SP latehar further said, “The JJMP ultras kept firing intermittently. We did not go for search at night but this Thursday morning there was the body and the weapons.”
Sources said JJMP ultras were in good numbers like 39 or 40 but none waited or took risk to carry away the dead body of their cadre Yadav.
Sources said a few years back JJMP and TPC used to convince police that they would not fight them but following the weakening of CPI Maoists these outfits dare to take on security forces, said sources. The JJMP contingent was led by Pappu lohra and Sushil.
Security forces lobbed three HE bombs. One HE bomb just did not go off. The bombing set off panic among the JJMP who fled from the scene.
Sources said JJMP and TPC have so far not gone for laying of IED.
Sources said the JJMP had no inkling of security forces zeroing in on them but it was all a well-planned and swift strategy that resulted in such a heavy dent to JJMP as had there been any delay the JJMP ultras would have got down from the hillock and dispersed in the dark, said sources.