Jharkhand: Latehar police’s tactical demolition of Naxal networks emerges as a pathbreaking counter-insurgency model

THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK

Daltonganj, July 15: The killing of Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad (JJMP) supremo Pappu Lohra in a daylight police encounter in Latehar district in May 2025 marked a turning point in the fight against Left-wing extremism in the region.

Lohra’s neutralisation triggered the rapid collapse of the banned splinter outfit, leading to a spate of surrenders and arrests. Few had imagined that the outfit, which had been steadily expanding and was expected to fill the vacuum left by the weakening CPI (Maoist), would crumble so quickly.

Much of the credit for dismantling the JJMP network has gone to Latehar Superintendent of Police Kumar Gaurav.

More than a year later, the district police registered another major success when a joint team of the Latehar Police and the 209 Battalion of the CRPF arrested dreaded CPI (Maoist) Regional Committee Member Ravinder Ganju alive without firing a single shot during the night of July 12-13.

Known by several aliases, Ganju was feared among contractors and builders alike. He was widely seen as a ruthless extortionist whose name evoked fear across the region.

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A police officer described him, saying, “His fingers knew the trigger of an AK-56 and the wiring of an improvised explosive device without any confusion.”

He was regarded as a walking symbol of terror, notorious for barging into homes and construction sites to demand levy. His extortion methods had earned him a fearsome reputation.

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Police also blamed him for the deaths of innocent villagers who fell victim to booby traps allegedly laid by Maoists while collecting minor forest produce.

A police officer remarked, “Ganju survived for so long because he deceived both the police and ordinary people, often leaving them dead.”

A Class-I contractor, requesting anonymity, said, “The arrest of Ganju has given us space to breathe. There was hardly a week when he did not threaten builders. He lived and breathed extortion and levy.”

SP Kumar Gaurav told The Jharkhand Story that Ganju made one final attempt to flee.

“Ganju did make one last attempt to outrun the police and the CAPF, but his legs and luck failed him. Our teams foiled his escape. He was caught near his house under the Chandwa police station limits, not in a hideout,” Gaurav said.

Police sources described Ganju as short in stature but strongly built.

“Although short in height, he was robust enough to pin down two or three men, making even trained policemen struggle to free themselves,” a police source said.

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A Quiet but Decisive Campaign

From May 2025 to July 2026, Latehar Police systematically dismantled Naxal networks in what remained a relatively low-profile campaign.

Senior police officers familiar with Kumar Gaurav’s work credited the success to his “meticulous planning and execution.”

Asked how Ganju’s arrest differed from the operation in which Pappu Lohra was killed, Gaurav said, “Operationally, it was entirely different and far more challenging. Lohra was neutralised in a direct encounter. In Ganju’s case, our strategy was to capture him alive despite knowing that he possessed an AK-56 rifle, an automatic pistol, a country-made rifle and more than 200 rounds of live ammunition. We succeeded in arresting him alive and recovered all his weapons and ammunition as well.”

On whether there was any difference in the influence enjoyed by Lohra and Ganju, Gaurav said, “Both had larger-than-life images. Both had strongholds. Their word carried unquestioned authority.”

He added, “Over the past six to eight months, Ganju had become increasingly isolated in Latehar. Usually, only one or two associates accompanied him. However, whenever he moved through Lohardaga and Gumla, he was surrounded by a much larger group of cadres.”

Responding to a question on community support enjoyed by the two leaders, Gaurav said, “Lohra was a very popular figure within his community. The same was true of Ganju.”

‘The CPI (Maoist) Has Become History in Latehar’

Asked how weak the CPI (Maoist) had become in Latehar, the SP replied, “It is finished. It is history. The organisation has suffered setback after setback. The arrest of Hemant Asur marked the turning point in its downward journey.”

On whether the Maoists could regroup or appoint a replacement, Gaurav said, “Only one leader, Manohar Ganju, remains. Neutralising his influence will be the final death knell for the CPI (Maoist) organisation.”

He added, “The Maoists have lost both manpower and operational capability. Regrouping or rejuvenation appears remote. Nevertheless, the police can never afford to become complacent.”

Police sources echoed that assessment, saying the Maoist leadership had virtually collapsed, cadres had become disintegrated and demoralised, and survival had become their primary concern.

Ganju’s wife reportedly told media persons that she had repeatedly urged him to surrender, but he refused because of fears about his future.

Police sources observed, “Ganju, who faces 154 criminal cases involving murder and other serious offences, never developed the resolve to surrender.”

Financial Investigation Underway

Asked about Ganju’s alleged proceeds of crime, Gaurav said, “The National Investigation Agency is examining the proceeds of crime linked to this Maoist. The Enforcement Directorate has already provisionally attached assets worth ₹3.87 crore allegedly belonging to a syndicate in which Ganju figures prominently.”

Connecting With the Public

A senior police officer shared insights into Kumar Gaurav’s style of policing.

“This IPS officer’s public outreach is simple and free from unnecessary officialdom. He speaks the language ordinary people speak and understand. That helps him connect with the public more quickly and more effectively,” the officer said.