Top PLFI commander injured, cadres held in Khunti

Pioneer News Service
Khunti

Security forces conducted a major anti-insurgency operation in Jharkhand’s Khunti district, injuring and apprehending a senior commander of the People’s Liberation Front of India (PLFI) and arresting several of his associates following an exchange of fire in the Tilmi forest under Jariagarh police station limits.

According to police, the operation was launched after intelligence inputs indicated that PLFI militants had gathered in the forest to allegedly plan a major criminal activity. Acting on the information, teams from Jariagarh and Karra police stations carried out a joint search operation.

Officials said the militants allegedly opened fire on the advancing security personnel, prompting retaliatory action. During the encounter, PLFI commander Shravan Das sustained gunshot injuries and was taken into custody. Police also arrested around half a dozen members of his group.

Khunti Superintendent of Police Rishabh Garg said security forces recovered a cache of weapons and incriminating materials from the encounter site, including four pistols, several country-made firearms, more than a dozen live cartridges, documents linked to the outfit, and a diary believed to contain operational details.

According to the police, the seized diary includes contact information for several contractors and records related to planned activities, making it a potentially significant piece of evidence in ongoing investigations into the group’s network and operations.

Shravan Das was reportedly wanted in connection with multiple criminal cases, including alleged incidents of extortion, arson and firing at railway construction sites in the Torpa and Karra areas. He had been on the police’s wanted list for an extended period.

After receiving preliminary medical treatment, the injured commander was referred to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Ranchi, for further care. Police said search operations are continuing in the surrounding forest to locate and apprehend any remaining members of the outfit.

Authorities have increased security deployment in the area following the operation, while further investigation into the recovered materials is underway.

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