crore bounty among 15 killed in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum
A top Maoist leader of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), who was carrying ₹1 crore bounty on his head, was killed with around 14 others in an encounter by security forces in the Saranda forest area of West Singhbhum district on Thursday, Indian Express reported quoting officials.
The deceased was identified as Pathiram Manjhi, a member of its top decision-making body Central Committee, in an encounter in Jharkhand’s Saranda forests.
The exchange of fire began near Kumbhdih village under the Chotanagra police station limits, and the operation is still underway.
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This encounter came weeks after the surrender of one of the key strategists of the Maoist outfit before the Telangana Police. Barsa Deva, an associate of the dreaded Maoist commander Madvi Hidma, laid down his arms with more than a dozen cadres.
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Who was the deceased Maoist leader?
The 51-year-old Manjhi, alias Anal Da, was also the secretary of the Bihar-Jharkhand Special Area Committee of the banned outfit. Manjhi was from the Giridih district of the state.
Majhi’s death a big blow to CPI(M)?
The encounter of Manjhi is another major blow to the organisational strength of the banned outfit, which is under immense pressure due to the intensive anti-Naxal operations deep inside what used to be their strongholds across Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
With Manjhi killed, the top leadership of the CPI(M) has now almost been eliminated, with only Thippiri Tirupathi alias Devuji remaining, with security forces in hot pursuit.
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Additionally, the organisation has also been dealt body blows by the surrender of several key members of its central committee and politburo, according to The Print.
The intensive operations are taking place as security forces are chasing the deadline of March 31, which was set publicly by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the eradication of left wing extremism in India. |
