In a major breakthrough in the whipping out the PlFI cadres from Jharkhand, Ranchi Police on Monday arrested PlFI sub zonal Commander and second in command, Jetha Kacchap, from his hideout in the bordering area of Ranchi and Khunti from the jungles of Chortanga under Tupudana police station near the State capital. According to police sources, one AK 47 along with other arms and ammunitions has been recovered from his possession.
Kacchap having reward money of `2 lakh on his head, is accused in more than 50 cases, including the murder case of Rajendra Kumar Dhan, husband of Ranchi Mayor Asha lakra in 2012. DGP Rajiv Kumar calling it a great achievement for the police, said that Kacchap's arrest is a big blow for the PlFI which will further lead to an end of the organisation.
“Presently, the police are interrogating him on the basis of which further action will be taken,” the DGP said. The police acting on a tip-off raided the area resulting into the arrest of Kacchap. “A team was sent on the basis of intelligence inputs that he was sleeping at a makeshift hideout erected near a brick-kiln under Tupudana police station. The team was sent where Kacchap was caught,” said Ranchi SSP Prabhat Kumar. An AK-47 rifle and some ammunition have also been seized from his possession, added Kumar.
Kacchap, 30, was currently a zonal commander of Bero and lapung area, and was involved in collecting levy from the local businessmen and contractors of the area. Sources said that he had earlier dodged the police on several occasions to avoid his arrest.
“Kaccahap, was a new entrant without having any Naxal background, who joined the organization some five years back as a criminal. On the basis of his criminal and managerial capabilities, he was promoted to the post of sub-zonal commander in the organization and is supposed to be on number 2 position after Dinesh Gope,” said the police sources.
PlFI has succeeded in spreading its wings into the districts of Ranchi, Khunti, Simdega, Gumla, latehar, lohardaga, and Chatra after being founded by Dinesh Gope along with several other splinter cadres of CPI Maoists in 2007. Studies by the special branch of Jharkhand police revealed that that PlFI has carried out more murders and attacks in Jharkhand than the CPI (Maoists) in last few years. Operations have been launched by the security forces in Khunti, Simdega, Gumla, lohardaga and other adjoining areas of these districts to flush out PlFI rebels.