Ranchi — In a significant anti-extremist operation, Jharkhand Police on Monday arrested six active members of banned organisations in two simultaneous actions in Khunti and Latehar districts and recovered firearms, ammunition and items suspected for use in arson and terror-related activities.
Khunti operation: Acting on specific intelligence, a special team formed by Superintendent of Police, Khunti and led by SDPO Torpa Christopher Kerketta raided an area near Jibilong Tongri (Rania police station). Four PLFI cadres were taken into custody — alleged kingpin and history-sheeter Ojha Pahan (also known as Ojha Topno), Xavier Kongadi, Santosh Kongadi and Jibnus Aind (alias Dadhiyal). Police said the group was reportedly planning to extort money from contractors and traders.
Seized items included a loaded 7.65 mm country-made pistol, another country-made pistol, multiple live cartridges, mobile phones and SIM cards. Two petrol bottles, believed to be intended for arson attacks, were also recovered. Investigators linked the suspects to several recent violent acts: the burning of a road roller on May 27 and an attempt to set a JCB on fire on August 8. The main accused, Ojha Pahan, faces 17 FIRs in Khunti and Gumla covering charges such as murder, arson, extortion and Arms Act violations.
Latehar operation: In a parallel raid based on secret intelligence, a team led by SDPO Arvind Kumar arrested two alleged members of the banned Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad (JJMP), identified as 30-year-old Amin Ansari and Krishna Sahu (alias Krishna Prasad, 30). Police said both have confessed to their roles in multiple extremist incidents across the area.
Police officials said these coordinated actions form part of an intensified campaign to dismantle the networks of banned outfits that have been spreading terror and extracting illegal revenue through extortion in parts of Jharkhand. Further investigations and follow-up operations are reportedly underway.
With inputs from IANS