Garhwa police have arrested the JJMP militant who fled away after an encounter with police from Bhimavaram of Andhra Pradesh . Police have also recovered one INSAS rifle, live cartridges and other items hidden in the forest of Jasobar village in Ranka police station area before fleeing after the encounter.
The arrested militant Rahul Keshari is a resident of Marda village under Bhandaria police station area.
On the information given by the accused Rahul, the police have recovered an INSAS rifle, 41 bullets, 4 magazines and other items.
Garhwa SP Deepak Pandey said on Monday that on 17 December 2023, the police force had an encounter with JJMP activist Tunesh Oraon and his 4-5 squad members in Dhengura village of Ranka police station area. Ranka police station in-charge Shankar Prasad Kushwaha was injured in the said encounter. After the encounter during the search operation, active activists Shivpujan Bhuihar alias Shivpujan Munda and Manoj Ram alias Manoj Kumar were arrested. On March 13, based on information Garhwa police, with the help of Chhattisgarh police, Tunesh Lakra alias Ravi,JJMP area commander was arrested. In the same sequence, on March 29, Garhwa police received information that Rahul Kesari, the main accused in the Dhengura encounter case, is hiding in Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh.
Based on the information, a team was formed under the leadership of Ranka SDPO Rohit Kumar Singh and sent to Bhimavaram and with the help of local police, a raid was conducted and Rahul Kesari was arrested. After the arrest, he was brought to Ranka police station. In his confession statement, he said that the rifle with which he was firing during the encounter was hidden in the forest of Jasobar village of Ranka police station before running away. On that tip the Garhwa district police and CRPF-172 BN team conducted a raid and recovered an INSAS rifle and bullets. Rahul has a criminal history and cases are registered against him in Ranka and Bhandaria police stations.