TPC commander Brijesh Ganjhu killed in UP ATS encounter in Varanasi
Brijesh Ganjhu, alias Gopal Singh Bhokta, a senior commander of the banned Jharkhand-based Tritiya Prastuti Committee (TPC), was killed in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in Varanasi early Sunday, police said.
Ganjhu, who had been wanted in 39 cases, carried a combined reward of Rs 30 lakh. The Jharkhand government had announced Rs 25 lakh for information leading to his arrest, while the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had announced an additional reward of Rs 5 lakh.
The cases against Ganjhu included allegations of murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, extortion, criminal conspiracy, illegal arms and offences under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. He was also wanted by the NIA in connection with a terror-funding case.
Two ATS personnel escape injury
The encounter took place around 4 am in the Ramnagar police station area after the ATS received confidential information about Ganjhu's movements.
According to police, Ganjhu was travelling on a motorcycle with an associate from Tengra Mor towards Mughalsarai via Ramnagar. An ATS team attempted to stop him near Lanka Maidan.
Police alleged that instead of stopping, Ganjhu got off the motorcycle and opened fire at the ATS personnel. The team retaliated, during which Ganjhu sustained gunshot injuries.
Two ATS personnel, Deputy Superintendent of Police Vipin Rai and Head Constable Nitendra Krishna, narrowly escaped injury after bullets hit their bulletproof jackets.
Ganjhu was taken to a hospital after being injured, where doctors declared him dead.
UP Additional Director General of Police, Law and Order, Amitabh Yash said the operation was conducted based on confidential information about Ganjhu's movements.
“Today, on September 20, at 4:00 am, acting on confidential information, the UP ATS attempted to intercept a motorcyclist in the Ramnagar police station area of Banaras. Instead of stopping, the motorcyclist opened fire on the ATS team. He was killed in retaliatory fire,” Yash said.
“He was a commander of the banned Naxal organisation ‘Tritiya Prastuti Committee’. A reward of Rs 5 lakh from the NIA and Rs 25 lakh from the Jharkhand government had been announced for him,” he said.
Yash added that information available with the authorities indicated that Ganjhu was wanted in connection with the murders of several police personnel.
Criminal cases against Ganjhu date back to 1996
Police records show that the earliest cases against Ganjhu date back to 1996. His name subsequently appeared in cases registered at several police stations in Jharkhand, including Simaria, Tandwa, Lawalong, Sadar, Piparwar, Pathalgadda, Mayurhand, Gidhaur, Hunterganj and Vashishthnagar.
The cases included allegations of murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, rioting, attacks on public servants, extortion, criminal intimidation and criminal conspiracy. Police records also show cases involving illegal weapons, explosives and anti-terror laws.
Cases registered against him in Simaria in 1996 included allegations of kidnapping and murder. By 1998, he faced cases involving attacks on public servants, grievous hurt, arson and explosives.
Later cases against him invoked provisions of the UAPA.
In a 2016 case registered at Tandwa, Ganjhu was accused of extortion and criminal conspiracy, along with offences under the Arms Act. Sections 16, 17, 20 and 23 of the UAPA were subsequently added during the investigation.
A separate case was registered at Tandwa police station in 2025 under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Criminal Law Amendment Act.
Jharkhand Police confirms death
Jharkhand Police confirmed that it had received information about Ganjhu's death following the Varanasi operation.
Ganjhu was a resident of Jharkhand's Chatra district. Police records also list Dularchand Ganjhu, Sardar, Ranjan Ji and Phulchand Ganjhu among his aliases.
The UP ATS had been tracking Ganjhu's movements and launched the operation after receiving information about his presence in Varanasi, police said.
Further legal formalities were underway. (with inputs from media organisations)
