Bihar: Maoist killed in Jamui encounter

PATNA: A Maoist, who served as area commander of Bihar and Jharkhand, was gunned down in an encounter during a joint operation by CRPF, STF, SSB and police in Jamui district late on Wednesday night.

The Maoist, identified as

Matlu Turi

, was said to be an important member of Pintu

Raan

squad. Police also recovered an INSAS rifle (5.56), live cartridges, magazines, bullets, detonators, mobile and other ammunition and document-related to Maoist activities from the slain Naxalite’s possession. According to officials, the group has been active in Giddheshwar forest area for a long time after

Sidhu Koda

, another hardcore Red leader of this area, was killed.

The encounter took place in the dense forest of Giddheshwar Hills in

Badiyadih

area under the Garhi police station area of the district on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday. On a tip-off, SP

Shaurya Suman

said an anti-Maoist operation was started at 7.30pm on Wednesday. When the team reached the forest, Maoists started firing indiscriminately on them. The operation went on till the wee hours of Thursday.

“When the firing stopped, the area was thoroughly searched and a Maoist was found dead holding INSAS rifle in his hands. The deceased person was identified as Matlu Turi, sub-zonal commander of JB zone, against whom many cases are lodged in Jamui, Banka, Munger, Nawada, Lakhisarai district and Giridih, Deoghar district of Jharkhand.

Matlu’s killing in a police encounter is a big achievement of Jamui police.