Five PLFI Maoists captured in Jharkhand’s Khunti; police recover arms and mobile phones

Ranchi: In a decisive operation against left-wing extremism, Jharkhand police arrested five hardcore Maoists associated with the banned People’s Liberation Front of India (PLFI) in the Ronhe forest of Khunti district on Sunday. A significant cache of weapons, including a carbine, cartridges, and explosives, was recovered from them.

According to police sources, the group was allegedly planning a large-scale attack.

During a press briefing, Khunti Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Christopher Kerketta revealed the identities of the arrested individuals as Pawan Kumar alias Pawan Mahato and Karma Barla, both residents of Targarhi village under Itki police station in Ranchi, along with Sentu Singh, Abhay Kumar Singh alias Aman Singh, and Deepak Munda, residents from Ramgarh district.

The arrests followed intelligence received by Khunti Superintendent of Police (SP) Aman Kumar regarding PLFI operatives in the Ronhe forest. Acting on this, a special team was assembled under ASP Christopher Kerketta, comprising Police Inspector Ashok Kumar Singh, Rania Police Station Incharge Vikas Jaiswal, Karra Police Station Incharge Manish Kumar, Jariagarh Police Station Incharge Raju Kumar, Police Sub-Inspector Deepak Kant, and armed personnel.

The team surrounded the dense forest, blocking all escape routes before successfully apprehending the militants. During interrogation, the arrested men confessed they were planning an armed attack to extort money from local businessmen and contractors.

Security forces seized four motorcycles, five mobile phones, PLFI pamphlets, and bags filled with essential supplies. Police records indicate that three of the accused—Pawan Kumar alias Pawan Mahato, Sentu Singh, and Deepak Munda—have multiple criminal cases registered against them in different police stations.

The arrests come just days after a violent encounter between security forces and PLFI insurgents in the Bandgaon police station area of West Singhbhum district on March 2, where two Naxalites were killed.

The PLFI, a splinter group of the Maoist insurgency, is notorious for engaging in extortion and terror activities, particularly targeting coal traders, transporters, railway contractors, and businessmen. The outfit’s influence extends beyond Jharkhand, with operations reported in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha.

IANS