Gumla — Martin Kerketta, the self-declared head of the banned People’s Liberation Front of India (PLFI) and a top Maoist figure, was shot dead during a fierce encounter with Jharkhand Police in Gumla on Tuesday night.
Kerketta had a ₹15 lakh reward on his head and had evaded capture for years, spreading terror across multiple districts — Gumla, Ranchi, Simdega, Khunti, and Lohardaga. His name was associated with more than 70 cases involving extortion, ambushes, and insurgent attacks.
Acting on intelligence inputs, a joint police force — including the district’s anti-Naxal QRT and teams from two stations — launched a mission in Changabari Upartoli (Kamdara PS) where Kerketta was reportedly extorting money.
As police closed in, Kerketta and his armed group opened fire. In the retaliatory exchange, Kerketta was shot dead on the spot. A cache of arms and ammunition was also recovered.
Authorities have now launched an extended search operation to locate the remaining members of his squad.
Kerketta, hailing from Redma village, had strong ties with former PLFI leader Dinesh Gop, and assumed command after Gop’s arrest in Nepal. He was also a central committee member and key planner of several high-profile attacks.
Speaking to reporters, SP Haris Bin Zama stated:
“Martin Kerketta’s killing marks a critical step forward in our fight against Left-Wing Extremism in the region.”
With inputs from IANS