Latehar, May 24 – A fierce gun battle broke out between police forces and Naxal insurgents in the dense Ichabar forest near the Latehar-Lohardaga district border early Saturday morning, resulting in the death of Pappu Lohra, the supremo of the Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad (JJMP), and his associate Prabhat Lohra. One more Naxalite was reportedly injured during the exchange of fire.
In the encounter, a police jawan sustained a gunshot injury and has been referred to RIMS Ranchi for advanced medical treatment.
High-Profile Naxal Leaders Neutralized
According to Palamu DIG Y.S. Ramesh, Pappu Lohra, who carried a bounty of ₹10 lakh, and Prabhat Lohra, with a bounty of ₹5 lakh, were neutralized during the operation. The deaths mark a significant blow to the JJMP’s activities in the region.
Operation Launched on Intelligence Input
The operation began after Latehar SP Kumar Gaurav received credible intelligence regarding the presence of a JJMP squad in the Ichabar jungle. Acting on the tip-off, security forces launched a coordinated search and combat mission in the forested area. The situation escalated into a heavy exchange of gunfire, leading to the death of the two wanted militants.
Jungle Cordoned Off, Search Operations Ongoing
Security forces have since cordoned off the entire forest region and are continuing their combing operations to ensure no remaining militants are hiding in the vicinity.
This encounter underscores the ongoing conflict between state forces and left-wing extremism in the region, and marks a crucial development in the effort to dismantle the JJMP’s influence in Jharkhand.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.