Jamshedpur: In a major breakthrough for the security forces, the zonal commander of the proscribed People’s Liberation Front of India (PLFI) who was carrying a reward of Rs 15 lakh was on Monday gunned down in Koyangsar under Murhu Police Station area of this district.
Police sources said that in a fierce encounter with PLFI ultras and CRPF and district police in which zonal commander Jidan Gudiya was gunned down. Nearly 100 cases were registered against him in different police station areas of the state. From the encounter site an AK-47 has also been recovered. Police were on hunt for Jidan for several years. After Dinesh Gope, Jidan Gudiya was at the second position in the hierarchy of PLFI. Sources said that a tip off had been received that Jidan along with his squad was moving around Koyangsar Pahadi after which a search operation was launched. As soon as the ultras saw the policemen they opened fire which was retaliated. Jidan hailed from Kocha village under Torpa Police Station area of this district and was active in PLFI for the last one decade.
The police and paramilitary forces have also beefed up the naxal infested areas of West Singhbhum district. Forces have been deployed in strategic locations.
The district police have maintained that combing operation in the Maoist infested areas of the district will continue as usual and there is no letup whatsoever. “Security has been beefed up in the area and they were keeping strict vigil on movement of the Naxalites. The plan is to keep a tab on the camps being operated by ultras,” said another official.