VISHVENDU JAIPURIAR
Chatra, April.3: A joint team of the Jharkhand police and the Cobra battalion tasted big success on the border of Chatra and Palamu gunning down five Maoists, including two most wanted Bihar- Jharkhand special area committee members (SAC) and three sub-zonal commanders in a fierce gunbattle.
DIG Narendra Kumar Singh who reached Lawalong confirmed the killing and said the two of the killed SAC members were notorious, most wanted and carried a reward of Rs 25 lakh each, while other three have a reward of Rs five lakh each.
Security forces have also recovered five weapons, including two AK 47, one Insas and two rifles from the spot.
The security forces had launched an operation against the Maoists on the Palamu-Chatra border. The security forces included jawans of Cobra, IRB, JAP and of Palamu and Chatra police. The killed SAC members were identified as Gautam Padwan and Ajeet Oraon a.k.a Charlis. The other three area commanders are Amar Ganjhu, Nandu and Sujeet Bhuiyan.
Police sources said it received information about presence of these topmost Maoist leaders in Laudia forest of Lawalong when SP Chatra Rakesh Ranjan formed a team and rushed to forest area.
With killing of its five topmost leaders, the outfit has suffered a big blow. Kumar termed the killing historic and big. He said two SAC members were dreaded and wanted in more than 50 cases, including cases related to killing of policemen. After the encounter, Palamu, Chatra and Latehar police have simultaneously started a search operation in the area and sealed many areas.
