Jharkhand Police nab PLFI chief Amrit Horo, ₹10 lakh bounty man, in night raid
Synopsis
Barely a year after PLFI supremo Martin Kerketta was killed, Jharkhand Police have now arrested his successor — Amrit Horo — in a late-night intelligence-led raid at a village wedding. The back-to-back leadership losses mark an unprecedented blow to the banned outfit's command structure in the Ranchi-Khunti belt.
Key Takeaways
Amrit Horo , PLFI chief and ₹10 lakh bounty holder, was arrested by Ranchi Police on 28 May in a late-night operation.
He was nabbed at a wedding in Jamakel village on the Ranchi-Khunti border based on specific intelligence.
Horo had taken over as PLFI chief after former supremo Martin Kerketta was killed in Gumla district .
He is accused of extortion, arson, levy collection from railway and construction projects, and encounters with security forces across Ranchi , Khunti , and nearby districts.
Both Ranchi and Khunti Police are interrogating him to map his network, associates, and arms hideouts.
Amrit Horo, the top commander of the banned People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI) and a man carrying a ₹10 lakh state bounty, was arrested by Ranchi Police in a late-night operation on 28 May, officials confirmed on Thursday. Horo had been evading security forces for years and had recently assumed leadership of the outfit following the death of its former supremo.
How the Arrest Unfolded
Ranchi Senior Superintendent of Police Rakesh Ranjan received specific intelligence that Horo would attend a wedding at Jamakel village, located along the Ranchi-Khunti border. Acting swiftly, a special team comprising the Quick Response Team (QRT) and other units cordoned off the area under cover of darkness and apprehended him. Notably, Horo is a native of Jamakel village — the very location that proved to be his undoing.
Who Is Amrit Horo
Horo rose to become the PLFI's new chief last year after the outfit's former supremo, Martin Kerketta, was killed in the Kamdara area of Gumla district. Since then, he had been directing the organisation's operations across the forested border regions of Ranchi and Khunti, frequently shifting hideouts to evade detection. Approximately one-and-a-half years ago, security forces had an encounter with Horo, but he escaped by exploiting the hilly and forested terrain.
Charges and Criminal History
Police records show Horo is accused in several serious cases spanning Ranchi, Khunti, and neighbouring districts of Jharkhand. The charges include extortion, levy collection from construction sites and railway projects, arson, firing, and direct encounters with security forces. He had been active in extremist activities for several years and was regarded as one of the most wanted operatives of the PLFI.
Interrogation and Next Steps
Horo has been moved to a secure location and is currently being interrogated by Ranchi Police. Khunti Police will also conduct a separate round of questioning. Investigators are working to identify other active members of his network, trace arms hideouts, and map the organisation's financial channels. Officials said his arrest is expected to significantly disrupt the PLFI's network and funding operations.
Impact on PLFI Operations
The PLFI has long been a destabilising force in Jharkhand's tribal belt, extorting funds from infrastructure projects and clashing with security forces. With Horo's arrest coming barely a year after the elimination of predecessor Kerketta, the outfit now faces a leadership vacuum for the second time in quick succession. This is widely seen as a significant blow to the group's command structure and operational continuity.
Point of View
But the deeper story is structural: the PLFI has now lost two successive chiefs within roughly a year — Kerketta to an encounter, Horo to an intelligence-led arrest. That pattern suggests Jharkhand Police have meaningfully improved their human intelligence penetration of the outfit. The real test will be whether interrogation yields actionable leads on arms caches and extortion networks before the PLFI installs a third commander and reconstitutes. In Jharkhand's tribal belt, leadership vacuums in armed groups have historically been temporary.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Amrit Horo and why was he wanted?
Amrit Horo is the top commander of the banned People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI), wanted in multiple cases including extortion, arson, levy collection from construction and railway projects, and encounters with security forces across Ranchi, Khunti, and neighbouring Jharkhand districts. The Jharkhand government had announced a ₹10 lakh reward for information leading to his arrest.
How was Amrit Horo arrested?
Ranchi Police received specific intelligence that Horo would attend a wedding at Jamakel village on the Ranchi-Khunti border. A special team including the Quick Response Team cordoned off the area in a late-night operation and apprehended him on 28 May.
How did Amrit Horo become PLFI chief?
Horo became the PLFI's chief last year after the outfit's former supremo, Martin Kerketta, was killed in the Kamdara area of Gumla district. Since then, he had been directing the organisation's activities from hideouts in the Ranchi-Khunti border region.
What happens next after his arrest?
Horo is being interrogated by Ranchi Police at a secure location, with Khunti Police also set to question him. Investigators are working to identify active network members, trace arms hideouts, and disrupt the PLFI's financial operations.
What is the PLFI and where does it operate?
The People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI) is a banned extremist outfit operating primarily in Jharkhand's tribal belt, particularly in the Ranchi, Khunti, and Gumla districts. It is known for extorting funds from infrastructure projects and clashing with security forces in forested and hilly terrain.
