PLFI ultra carrying reward of Rs 2 lakh killed in encounter near Jamshedpur

Jamshedpur, Dec 16: In a major breakthrough, an area commander of the banned outfit People’s Liberation Front of India (PLFI) was killed in an encounter with the police and paramilitary forces on Thursday morning under Gudri Police Station area of the West Singhbhum district.The ultra was identified as Mangra Lugnu. The encounter took place in Redadha of Goilkera panchayat under the Gudri Police Station area. In a fierce battle, nearly 36 rounds were fired in which the area commander was killed.

The security forces recovered a firearm and a bag from the spot. Police said that Mangra Oraon was a dreaded ultra and was involved in collecting levy from contractors, gambling den operators and balu ghat owners.The spot where the encounter took place is considered to be a PLFI stronghold area.

Sources said that on November 26 an encounter had taken place in the forests of Gudri in which PLFI supremo Dinesh Gope had managed to escape. Mangra Lugnu who was also involved in the encounter had stayed back in the forest with a small group.

Sources claimed that the police were monitoring his activities inside Sarugarha forests for the last few days. Acting on a tip off the security forces launched the attack.

Police said that the security has been beefed up in the area and they were keeping strict vigil on movement of the Naxlites. “There has been a substantial increase in Maoist activities in this. We are not much concerned about small acts of violence because these activities can be controlled by us, but the bigger attacks are worrisome,” said a security official.

“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.

According to police, PLFI cadres are engaged in collecting levy from contractors, small industrialists, traders and transporters.  The rebels have operated for decades across a wide swath of central and eastern India, and grew in strength during recent times in areas where poor, tribal villagers came into conflict with mining companies seeking resources for industrialization. They have killed police and politicians and targeted government buildings and railway tracks in an insurgency that has killed thousands since the 1960s.