2 top leaders of Maoist splinter group shot dead in Jharkhand

The operation is still ongoing, with security forces continuing combing efforts in the forest to trace any remaining members of the outfit.

2 min readNew DelhiUpdated: May 25, 2025 03:39 AM IST

Aa team of security personnel led by Latehar Superintendent of Police (SP) Kumar Gaurav launched a search operation. (Representational)

According to Inspector General (IG) Operational Amol Homkar, a small action team comprising personnel from SP Latehar’s special squad and local police had launched a search operation in the jungles.(Representational)

The Latehar Police shot dead two top leaders of the banned outfit Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad (JJMP) in an early morning encounter Saturday in the forests of Latehar district.

The JJMP is a splinter group of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist).

Around dawn, as the team moved deeper into the forest, Naxalites opened fire, triggering a fierce gunbattle.

The operation was launched after the police received credible intelligence inputs about the presence of armed JJMP operatives in the region.

“Our team retaliated effectively. After the exchange of fire ceased, the bodies of two extremists were recovered,” IG Homkar said. “One of them has been confirmed as Pappu Lohara, the supremo of the JJMP who carried a bounty of `10 lakh. The other is suspected to be Prabhat Ganjhu, who had a reward of `5 lakh,” the IG said.

Initial verification has confirmed Lohara’s death, marking a huge blow to the outfit’s leadership. One jawan sustained a bullet injury during the operation and was successfully evacuated for medical treatment.

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Another suspected Maoist (Sub-Zonal Commander) was also found injured and has been taken into custody and sent for treatment.

Police recovered one INSAS rifle and other materials from the site of the encounter. IG Homkar hailed the strike as a significant achievement, stating that the outfit had been very active in the region. The operation is still ongoing, with security forces continuing combing efforts in the forest to trace any remaining members of the outfit.

Shubham Tigga

Shubham Tigga is a Correspondent at The Indian Express, presently based in Pune, where he covers the intersections of infrastructure, labor, and the modern economy. His reporting focuses on civil aviation, urban mobility, the gig economy, and workers' unions, providing critical insights into how transit and commercial sectors impact the daily lives of citizens. Expertise & Background Before moving to Pune, he reported extensively from his home state of Chhattisgarh, where he focused on Indigenous (Adivasi) issues, environmental justice, and grassroots struggles in mainland India. This experience gives him a unique lens through which he analyzes the impact of large-scale infrastructure projects on local communities. Academic Foundation He is an alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), where he honed his skills in investigative reporting and ethical journalism. His academic training, combined with his field experience in Central India, allows him to navigate complex socio-economic landscapes with nuance and accuracy. You can reach out to him on LinkedIn ... Read More

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