Naxal commander killed in Varanasi
A senior commander of a banned Naxal group based in Jharkhand, who had a total reward of `30 lakh on his head, was killed during an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) in Varanasi on Sunday morning. The police have identified the deceased as Brijesh Ganjhu, also known as Gopal Singh Bhokta, son of Panchu Ganjhu and a resident of the Chatra district in Jharkhand.
The ATS referred to him as a key member and commander of the Tritiya Prastuti Committee, a banned extremist group which had broken away from the Maoist movement. He had been at large for almost twenty years. The ATS said it received specific information that Ganjhu had entered Varanasi and was moving towards Lanka Maidan in the Ramnagar police station area.
In the early morning of 20 September, Ganjhu and one of his associates were riding a motorcycle from Tengra Mor to Mughalsarai via Ramnagar. Police personnel pursuing them saw the two suspects near Lanka Maidan and asked them to stop. Instead of obeying, the suspects fired upon the police. The ATS team then fired back during the confrontation. Ganjhu suffered bullet wounds and was taken to a hospital, where the doctors declared him dead. His associate fled the scene and remains at large.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Vipin Kumar Rai and Head Constable Jitendra Krishna were also shot in the encounter.
The officials stated that the bullets hit their bulletproof vests and both officers only suffered slight injuries. Police said over 50 cases are registered against Ganjhu; many date back to 1996 and were filed at various police stations in Chatra and other districts of Jharkhand.
The accusations against Gandhu covered murder, an attempt to murder, kidnapping, extortion, criminal conspiracy, rioting, the illegal possession and use of arms, assault, damage to public property, and violations of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Criminal Law Amendment Act; furthermore, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) was carrying out prosecutions against him, including those relating to terror funding.
The Government of Jharkhand had set a reward of Rs 25 lakh rupees for any information that would result in his arrest, while the NIA announced an extra Rs 5 lakh rupees, bringing the total bounty to Rs 30 lakh rupees. At the site of the encounter, the ATS found two pistols, a carbine, a large amount of ammunition and Rs 1 lakh rupees in cash.
