Latehar — In a major success for security forces, CPI (Maoist) commander Manish Yadav, carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh, was killed during a fierce gunfight in the forests of Latehar district, Jharkhand. Another senior Maoist leader, Kundan Kharwar, who had a Rs 10 lakh bounty, was captured alive during the operation.
The encounter occurred in the Dauna and Karamkhar forest region under the jurisdiction of Netarhat police station, and lasted from late Sunday night into the early hours of Monday.
According to Latehar Superintendent of Police Kumar Gaurav, security forces launched a joint operation based on specific intelligence inputs about the movement of armed Maoist cadres in the area.
As the team advanced into the forest, Maoists opened fire, triggering a prolonged exchange that lasted nearly three hours. After the guns fell silent, the body of one slain insurgent — later identified as Manish Yadav — was recovered from the site.
During the subsequent combing operation, forces arrested Kundan Kharwar, a top Maoist with a Rs 10 lakh reward. Several weapons and other incriminating materials were also recovered.
Authorities said the Maoists had assembled in the area to orchestrate a major attack, which was thwarted by the swift and coordinated action of the forces.
This marks the second major breakthrough for Latehar police in their ongoing offensive against Maoist elements in just three days.
On May 24, two Maoists — Pappu Lohara (carrying a Rs 10 lakh bounty) and Prabhat Lohara (Rs 5 lakh) — were killed in an encounter in the Ichwar forest, while another was injured and taken into custody. All were members of the banned outfit Jharkhand Sangharsh Mukti Morcha.
Earlier, on April 21, eight Maoists — including top commander Prayag Manjhi, who had a Rs 1 crore reward — were eliminated in a major encounter in the Lugu Hills of Bokaro district.
These successive operations underscore the increasing effectiveness of the coordinated anti-Maoist strategy being implemented across Jharkhand.