Have Two Ultras Been Arrested in Jharkhand’s Latehar?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Sunil Oraon and Mukesh Lohara were arrested in a significant police operation.
- Both leaders carried a reward of Rs 2 lakh.
- The arrests are a substantial setback for the JJMP.
- Only four to five members of the JJMP are currently active in the region.
- The crackdown on Maoist activities will continue until all members are apprehended.
Latehar (Jharkhand), Dec 3 (NationPress) - Authorities have apprehended two prominent area leaders of the outlawed Maoist group Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad (JJMP) in Latehar district on Wednesday, according to police reports. The detained individuals, Sunil Oraon alias Mantu and Mukesh Lohara, were each carrying a bounty of Rs 2 lakh.
Latehar Superintendent of Police Kumar Gaurav stated that this operation represents a significant blow to the JJMP, which has faced considerable setbacks in recent times.
He highlighted that following a recent encounter where JJMP commander Pappu Lohara was killed, intelligence sources indicated that some members were trying to regroup and restore the group's activities.
In response to these insights, a specialized team was formed, consisting of personnel from both Latehar and Manika police stations, under the guidance of SDPO (DSP) Arvind Kumar.
According to police, Oraon was located near his home village of Navagarh, within the Sadar police station jurisdiction, while Lohara was traced to the Purni Palheya area under Manika police station limits.
Based on the intelligence gathered, simultaneous raids were conducted between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. on Wednesday, successfully apprehending both leaders with minimal resistance.
SP Gaurav noted that Oraon is implicated in over seven Maoist-related cases across Latehar and neighboring districts, while Lohara has been named in two cases related to Maoist activities. Both had previously evaded capture during a police encounter.
The SP further added that the ongoing police pressure has largely incapacitated JJMP’s operational capabilities, with only four to five members believed to be active in the area. In the last six months, two significant Maoist leaders, including the JJMP chief, have been killed in encounters, and numerous cadres have surrendered.
The operation was conducted with assistance from Manika police station in-charge Shashi Kumar, Latehar police station in-charge Ramakant Gupta, SI Vikrant Upadhyay, Rahul Kumar Sinha, Vikas Kumar, Dharamveer Singh, and other members of the district police.
The authorities affirmed that the crackdown will persist until all remaining members of the organization are eliminated.