Unknown event in Jharkhand, Lohardaga District area, India on Thu 29th December 2022

A Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadre was killed in an encounter with Security Forces (SFs) in Lohardaga District of Jharkhand on December 29, reports Outlook India. Another Maoist was arrested during the operation. Acting on a tip-off about the presence of over 18 Maoists led by CPI-Maoist self-styled 'zonal commander' Ravindra Ganju, who carries a bounty of INR 1.5 million on his head, in Korbo forest in Bagru area, a team of Jharkhand Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel launched an operation and on spotting the SFs, the Maoists opened indiscriminate fire and retaliation from the law enforcers led to an intense gun-battle, during which, the Maoists retreated into dense forests, a senior Police officer said. SF personnel arrested two Maoists during a massive search operation launched in the forest after the encounter, he said. One of the arrested Maoists, identified as self-styled 'sub-zonal commander' Chandrabhan Pahan, was seriously injured and after being administered primary treatment by the doctor of the SFs, he was taken to Sadar Hospital in Lohardaga, where doctors declared him dead. The other arrested Maoist was identified as Govind Birijia, also a self-styled 'sub-zonal commander'. Both the Maoists carried a bounty of INR 500,000 each on their heads. Pahan was wanted in over 24 cases, including 16 in Lohardaga, while Birijia was wanted in over two dozen cases.