Daijiworld Media Network - Ranchi
Ranchi, Mar 9: In a significant operation against left-wing extremism, Jharkhand police arrested five hardcore Maoists from the Ronhe forest in Khunti district on Sunday. The individuals are believed to be members of the banned People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI), a Maoist outfit. Authorities also recovered a substantial cache of weapons and materials, including a carbine and cartridges, from the arrested militants.
The arrests were made after the police acted on intelligence reports suggesting that PLFI operatives were planning a major attack. According to the police, the group was targeting local contractors and businessmen for extortion.
At a press conference, Khunti Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Christopher Kerketta confirmed the arrest of five individuals identified as Pawan Kumar alias Pawan Mahato, Karma Barla (both from Targarhi village under the Itki police station in Ranchi), Sentu Singh, Abhay Kumar Singh alias Aman Singh, and Deepak Munda (all from Ramgarh district).
The operation was initiated after Khunti Superintendent of Police (SP) Aman Kumar received credible information regarding the presence of PLFI militants in the Ronhe forest. A special team, led by ASP Christopher Kerketta, was formed, including senior officers from various police stations. The team successfully surrounded the forest area from all directions, preventing the suspects from fleeing and apprehending them.
During initial interrogations, it was revealed that the arrested Maoists were planning an attack to extort money from local contractors. In addition to the arms cache, the police also seized four motorcycles, five mobile phones, PLFI pamphlets, and several bags of supplies.
Police records indicate that three of the arrested individuals—Pawan Kumar alias Pawan Mahato, Sentu Singh, and Deepak Munda—have a history of criminal activity with multiple cases registered against them across different police stations.
This operation follows a violent clash between security forces and PLFI insurgents on March 2 in Bandgaon, West Singhbhum, where two Naxalites were killed. The PLFI, a breakaway faction of the Maoist insurgency, is notorious for its extortion activities, primarily targeting coal traders, transporters, railway contractors, and businessmen. The group's reach extends beyond Jharkhand, with operations reported in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha.