Jharkhand News: Naxal outfit JJMP’s chief Pappu Lohra killed in encounter in Latehar

THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK

Daltonganj, May 24: Commander in Chief of the banned splinter group of Naxals, JJMP (Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad) Pappu Lohra has been neutralised in a daylight encounter with the security forces at Ichabar under the Latehar police station limits this Saturday morning.

One other ultra, identified as Prabhat Ganjhu, too, was neutralised in the encounter, said the Latehar SP Kumar Gaurav.

Till the report last came in, one more ultra is injured and in police custody, getting medical treatment.

SP Kumar Gaurav said, “Our one cop has sustained a bullet injury in his shoulder. He is stable and out of danger. He will have his treatment in the higher centre in Ranchi.”

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Police Officials Call it a Historic Success

IG of Police, Palamu Zone, Sunil Bhaskar, termed this neutralisation of Pappu Lohra as ‘one of the biggest achievements of the Latehar police as well as of Jharkhand police’.

“The Latehar police did a good job. The JJMP is now orphaned. It’s supremo Pappu Lohra, who had inimitable tactical skill and agility, is gone. The JJMP is ready for its obituary,” said IG Bhaskar.

On being asked if the outfit, which still has well-armed cadres numbering little over half a dozen, can regroup and resurface to which the IG said, “We are on high alert. There is no room for any complacency. Our police are ready to give deadly blows to any aberration if the Naxals do such a foolhardy.”

Pappu Lohra’s Death May Spark Exodus From JJMP

“We are expecting one or two surrenders of the Naxals in a few days,” the IG hinted at.

Sources said the loss of Pappu Lohra may see an exodus of the ultras from the outfit.

Sources said the neutralisation of Pappu Lohra has come as a shot in the arm of the Latehar police which suffer onslaughts of the Naxals every now and then.

Torching vehicles is the easiest job that the Naxals do. This gunning down of the top of the JJMP is a grim reminder to the Naxals to choose between two things: to live on or to die.

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Sources said Pappu Lohra was given opportunities for surrender, but he chose to die as the retaliation of the security forces was most precise and pinpointed.

Latehar SP Kumar Gaurav, putting the record straight, said, “The JJMP ultras were the first to open fire at us. Exercising the right to defend, the security forces retaliated with precision, resulting in huge losses to the camp of the JJMP.”