Security forces in Jharkhand achieved a major breakthrough in their fight against Maoist insurgency as Maoist commander Manish Yadav was killed in an encounter late Sunday night.
Yadav, who carried a bounty of Rs 5 lakh on his head, was shot dead in a gun battle with security personnel in the dense forests of Latehar.
Another wanted Maoist, Kundar Kherwar, was arrested at the scene. Kherwar had a reward of ₹10 lakh for his capture. According to police officials, the encounter took place in the Karamkhad and Dauna forests under the Mahuadanr Police Station limits.
Palamu Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Y.S. Ramesh confirmed the operation, stating that security forces acted on a tip-off regarding Yadav’s presence in the area. “As soon as our team reached the forest, the Maoists opened fire. The security forces retaliated, leading to the death of Yadav on the spot,” said DIG Ramesh.
During the post-operation search, authorities recovered two automatic rifles along with other items used by the insurgents. Officials noted that Yadav’s death marks a significant blow to the Bihar-based Maoist leadership in the Budha Pahad training centre. Yadav, originally from Gaya district in Bihar, had been actively operating in Jharkhand for over a decade.
