In a major push to security forces engaged in eradicating extremism from State, a joint team of Cobra battalion and State police killed five PLFI members and nabbed two others in an encounter in Tirla forest under Murhu police station of Khunti district on Tuesday. Among the deceased is PLFI area commander Prabhu Sahay Bodra, who carried a reward of two lakh rupees on his head.
Forces have recovered two AK-47 rifles, AKM rifle, 303 rifle and pistol each, three country-made pistols, 263 cartridges, explosive materials, a wireless set and explosive materials from the site.
Officials informed that the operation was launched in the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday following information about the presence of a squad led by PLFI’s Prabhu Sahay Bodra and Deet Nag.
At 6: 30 am, ultras opened fire on forces leading to an encounter that lasted for about two hours. With five of their members killed and several injured, the extremists fled from the spot taking advantage of the forest and uneven terrain.
The security forces nabbed two injured extremists during the search operation launched after the encounter. Both of them have been admitted in Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences.
Addressing a joint Press conference on the success, ADG Operation ML Meena said police have registered at least 31 cases related to various crimes including murder and arson against Prabhu Sahay and his squad.
He said Prabhu Sahay was involved in murder of three villagers in Arki police station area on 29 June 2016, adding that he had also shot dead one Lakhsman Purty in Kudasud village in September 2016.
He also participated in an assault on the police force during Jharkhand Bandh in September 2016 under Murhu police station area.
IG, CRPF, Sanjay Anand Lathekar said on the occasion that the joint team showed outstanding level of bravery in the entire operation. He added that there is strong possibility of other extremists also being injured but they have managed to flee.
IG, Operations, Ashish Batra informed that police and CRPF including the CoBRA have eliminated seven notorious extremists in seven encounters that took place in January 2019.
The police team including ASP Anurag Raj, DSP Kuldeep, Deputy Commandant Viky Kumar, Assistant Commandant Jitendra Singh and jawans of CoBRA and the Jharkhand police are likely to be recommended for reward, senior police officer said.