Maoist gunned down in Jamui encounter

AN INSAS RIFLE, WAS ALSO RECOVERED FROM THE POSSESSION OF THE SLAIN MAOIST, POLICE SAID

An unidentified Maoist was gunned down in an encounter with security forces in Bihar’s Jamui district on Wednesday midnight while a search operation was being conducted in the Sagdari forest area, police said, adding that no security person was injured or killed in the incident.

According to police, the body of a Maoist clad in ‘uniform’ along with a sophisticated Insas rifle, suspected to be looted from police, was recovered from the spot, located around 180 km southeast of Patna.

“Blood stains were found at the spot, indicating that some more ultras might have been injured or killed in the gun battle. He seems to be around 45 years of age,” said an official of the special task force (STF).

Acting on a tip-off that a meeting of CPI (Maoist) rebels were going to be held with close associates of Maoist commanders---Pintoo Rana and others--somewhere near Giddheshwar hilly and forest area, a search operation was launched to trace them from Wednesday evening.

“The encounter started when a team of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) reached the jungle. After the firing stopped, the body of a Maoist was recovered. Further details are awaited as the search operation is still underway,” said Shaurya Suman, Jamui Superintendent of Police (SP).

Sources in the state police headquarters disclosed that the slain Maoist could be Matlu Turi. “He was active since 2010 and was a member of Pintoo Rana’s squad. More than 50 cases are lodged against Turi in Bihar and Jharkhand,” police said. Earlier on February 2, two Maoists were gunned down in an encounter with security forces in Lakhisarai district, later identified as—Jagdish Koda and Birendra Koda—who was wanted in many cases related to violence.