Ranchi: In a major breakthrough against Maoist insurgency, Hazaribagh Police arrested five members of the banned group Tritiya Sammelan Prastuti Committee (TSPC), including a senior area commander, during a late-night operation in the Taraesa forest area on June 12. Acting on reliable intelligence, police successfully foiled a significant planned attack by the group in the region.
The operation began after Superintendent of Police Anjani Anjan received credible information around 9 PM about 7–8 armed TSPC militants gathering near Ghatgosai in the Taraesa jungle. A special team, led by Sadar Sub-Divisional Police Officer Amit Anand (IPS) and supported by technical and anti-Naxal units, quickly launched a combing operation.
The team arrested five Maoists and recovered a large quantity of illegal weapons and ammunition. Among those arrested was Awadhesh Kumar alias Prashant Ji, a senior TSPC commander with a long criminal record. Others arrested include Aditya Ganjhu, Deven Ganjhu, and Dharam Ganjhu from Lawalong in Chatra district, and Rupalal Ganjhu from Keredari, Hazaribagh.
Seized items included one AR-15 M4 American carbine rifle with magazine, a 7.62 mm country-made pistol with magazine, three country-made firearms (kattas), multiple rounds of ammunition, nine mobile phones, ten TSPC pamphlets, a camouflage backpack, and a magazine pouch.
Awadhesh Kumar is connected to several serious criminal cases registered at Katkamsandi and Katkamdag police stations, including attempted murder, unlawful assembly, criminal intimidation, and offenses under the CLA Act.
This operation follows a TSPC attack on June 1 in Pagar OP area of Keredari police station, where militants set fire to two vehicles of BGR Mining Company and fired shots before fleeing, leaving behind pamphlets signed “Kaushal Ji.” A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to probe that incident.
The operation was conducted by SDPOs Amit Anand and Pawan Kumar (Barkagaon), police inspectors and sub-inspectors from various stations, along with technical and anti-Naxal unit members.
Police officials said that the timely action prevented a large-scale Maoist attack, reaffirming their commitment to maintaining peace and security in the region.