The security forces gained a big success by neutralising a veteran Maoist who carried a bounty of Rs 15 lakh on his head.

He was an area commander of the banned Maoist splinter group, People’s Liberation Front of India (PLFI). He was reportedly killed in a gunfight with security forces in Jharkhand’s Gumla district.

According to the police, on a tip-off, the security forces launched an operation in the Changabadi Upartoli area under the Kamdara Police Station limits this morning when the PLFI members opened fire, provoking counter-firing by security forces, said a senior police officer who is posted in Gumla district of Jharkhand.

When contacted, Gumla Superintendent of Police, Haris Bin Zaman, said that security forces reached Changabadi Upartoli, where Maoists started firing at them. “Security personnel also retaliated, in which PLFI’s Martin Kerketta was killed. A pistol was also recovered from his possession,” said Haris Bin Zaman.

Zaman confirmed that he had received a ‘tip-off’ about the presence of some Maoists in the area, and accordingly, multiple teams were set up to carry out the operation.

“Four Maoists were present during the exchange of fire. Three managed to flee the spot, taking advantage of the darkness,” he said.

The search operation is still going on, the Zaman pointed out. Rural Gumla is tribal inhabited belt bordering Chhattisgarh.