Jharkhand: Security forces gun down 5 CPI-Maoist cadres including 2 Naxal leaders in Latehar

Joint security forces on Wednesday gunned down five CPI-Maoist members including two Naxal commanders in Jharkhand’s Latehar district.

A senior CRPF official not authorised to talk to the media told NewsNation.in that five Naxals were gunned down in an encounter that lasted for an hour.

“A anti-insurgency operation including CRPF and Jharkhand Police was launched in Latehar’s Sikid-Kerh forest on intelligence inputs,” added the CRPF officer.

“The Maoists opened fired on the joint team as we approached Bhargaon village. We immediately took our positions and retaliated,” added the CRPF officer.

He further added that several Naxal cadres managed to flee taking benefit of the dense forest.

“We have recovered the bodies of the Maoist cadres,” said Palamu Range deputy inspector general police (DIG) Bipul Shukla said.

According to reliable sources in police, two killed Maoist cadres have been identified as Shivlal Yadav and Sravan. “The duo killed are sub-zonal commanders. The duo carried an award of Rs 5 lakh on their head,” a inspector rank officer said.

Security forces have recovered huge cache of arms and ammunition from the encounter site. “We have recovered three AK-47, one INSAS rifle and .315 bore regular rifle were recovered during search operation after the gunbattle,” the inspector added.