NIA raids McCluskieganj and Latehar border locations

Mail News Service

Ranchi, July 24: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has launched extensive raids at multiple locations along the McCluskieganj and Latehar border since Wednesday morning. The operation targets supporters of Naxalite commander Ravindra Ganjhu and several individuals who allegedly invested his levy earnings, with a reward of Rs 15 lakh on Ganjhu.

The NIA team, based in Ranchi, is conducting searches at various properties, including the homes of contractors Jitendra Pandey and Rohit Yadav in McCluskieganj. They have also reached Rohit Yadav’s brick kiln in Chandwa. Yadav has previously faced charges related to terror funding and has served time in jail.

The investigation traces back to an FIR registered on February 21, 2022, at Pesharar police station in Lohardaga, following the recovery of arms and ammunition in the Bulbul forest of Lohardaga district. The NIA re-registered the case on June 14, 2022, under RC-02/2022/NIA/RNC.

Security forces had received intelligence indicating that Ravindra Ganjhu, along with associates Balram Oraon, Muneshwar Ganjhu, Balak Ganjhu, Dinesh Nageshia, Sheela Kherwar, Lalita Devi, and 40-60 other Naxalites, were planning a major attack, targeting both security forces and a bauxite mine. This led to a joint search operation, Operation Double Bull, involving local police and CRPF personnel in Bahabar forest and Bangla Pat of the Harkatta group.

During this operation, CPI (Maoist) cadres opened fire on the security forces, who subsequently recovered a significant cache of arms and ammunition. The NIA’s ongoing investigation has uncovered that the CPI (Maoist) organization conspired to undermine the country’s integrity, security, and sovereignty through violent and terrorist acts.

The NIA continues to probe the connections between Maoist cadres, overground supporters, and the larger network, aiming to dismantle the Naxalite infrastructure and thwart the organization’s anti-India conspiracy.