New Delhi – Security forces shot dead three members of the banned JJMP group in an encounter in Gumla district’s Kechki forest on Wednesday.
The dead have been identified as Lalu Lohra and Chhotu Oraon, both carrying ₹5 lakh rewards, and Sujeet Oraon, an active cadre. An AK-47 and other arms were seized at the site.
This was the fourth anti-Maoist encounter in September, taking the death toll to eight this month and 32 so far in 2025. Police say around 100–150 Maoists remain active in Jharkhand, with 13 top leaders still on the most-wanted list.
The state’s biggest crackdown this year came in April in Bokaro, when eight Maoists, including top commander Prayag Manjhi (₹1 crore bounty), were killed.
Jharkhand Police, with paramilitary support, aim to eliminate Maoist presence by March 2026.
With inputs from IANS