Hazaribagh: A self-styled Maoist platoon commander was today killed and several guerillas were injured in a two-hour encounter with the police near Resharam village, about forty km from Hazaribagh.
"The top Maoist leader, Navin Manjhi alias Babulal Munda, was killed and the body was recovered from the spot. The security forces were searching the forests to locate at least four other bullet-hit Maoist guerillas," Hazaribag Superintendent of Police Pankan Kamboj told a news conference here.
Two powerful batteries for landmine use, one 9 mm pistol with five live cartridges along with two magazines lying near Navin were seized, Kamboj said.
According to SP, Manjhi, who was operating in the area from 1991-92,hailed from Lapam village in the district.
Getting a tip-off that the Maoists firing squad numbering 25 assembled near Resharam village to plan attacks, the police set up a task force consisting of STF Jaguar force.
When the team reached a house, an armed man immediately opened fire, triggering the gunbattle in which the two sides exchanged 450 bullets, the police officer said.
The SP claimed that Manjhi's killing was a big achievement for the police as he was wanted in more than two dozen cases, including burning of equipment and vehicles of a railway construction company at Resharam.
