Three Maoists Killed in Gunfight With Security Forces in Jharkhand’s Gumla
Encounter in Kechki village forest kills three JJMP members, weapons recovered during ongoing search.
In a significant operation against left-wing extremism, security forces neutralized three members of a banned Maoist splinter group during a gunfight in Jharkhand's Gumla district on Wednesday morning. The clash, involving personnel from the elite Jharkhand Jaguar unit and Gumla Police, unfolded around 8 a.m. in a forested area near Kechki village under Bishnupur police station limits.
This encounter underscores the ongoing efforts to curb Maoist insurgency in the state's mineral-rich and tribal-dominated regions, where such groups have long exploited grievances over land rights and development disparities.
Inspector General (Operations) and Jharkhand Police Spokesperson Michael Raj S confirmed that three cadres of the Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad (JJMP) were killed in the exchange of fire. "Three JJMP Maoists were killed in the gunfight. Three weapons were also recovered from the site," S told PTI.
The recovery of arms highlights the forces' success in disrupting the group's operational capabilities. A search operation continues in the area to ensure no further threats remain, amid heightened vigilance in the Red Corridor, a swath of central and eastern India plagued by Naxalite violence.
Gumla Superintendent of Police Haris Bin Zaman identified the deceased as Lalu Lohra and Sujit Oraon, both residents of neighboring Lohardaga district, and Chotu Oraon from Latehar district. These districts form part of Jharkhand's volatile "Red belt," where Maoist factions like JJMP—a splinter from the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army—have been active in extortion, ambushes, and recruitment.
The JJMP, designated a terrorist outfit under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, has been linked to several attacks on security personnel and infrastructure projects, prompting intensified counter-insurgency drives.
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This incident adds to Jharkhand's tally of over 20 Maoists killed in encounters this year, reflecting a sustained crackdown that has weakened the insurgents' hold but also drawn criticism for alleged human rights concerns in forested terrains. As operations persist, authorities emphasize community outreach to address root causes like poverty and displacement, aiming for a violence-free festive season ahead of Durga Puja. The event reinforces the state's resolve to dismantle Maoist networks, potentially boosting investor confidence in resource extraction sectors.
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