Maoist, wanted in 109 cases and carrying reward of Rs 15 lakh, killed in encounter in Jharkhand

Gumla: In a major success for the state police and the paramilitary personnel involved in anti-insurgency operations in Jharkhand hardcore ultra Budheshwar Oraon who was carrying a reward of Rs 15 lakh on his head and was also a regional committee member of the CPI Maoists was gunned down in encounter which took place today in the dense forest located under Kurumgarh police station area of this district.

The deceased Budheshwar Oraon was also the Secretary of the Koyel-Sankh zone of the Maoists. A statement issued by the state police headquarters said that police had received a tip-off regarding a gathering of a large number of Maoists inside the forest who were planning to execute a major incident after which a joint team of the Cobra, CRPF, Jharkhand Jaguar and Gumla district police started conducting search and combing operations inside the forest.

On Thursday morning both the sides came face to face with each other which resulted in a gun battle in which a Maoist was killed while others managed to flee into the deeper reaches of the forest. Later the killed ultra was identified as Budheshwar Oraon a resident of Khatanga village under Palkot police station area of Gumla district.

IEDs which have been recovered from the spot was being defused by the bomb disposal squad which is also accompanying the security forces inside the forest as Oraon and his cadres to inflict damage on security forces and villagers had planted IEDs in the forest and hilly terrain in which so far five villagers have lost their lives and 14 others sustained serious injuries.

Budheshwar Oraon was a terror in the region and people especially those living in the rural area were terrified of his presence. A total of 109 cases including those related to murder, attempt to murder, dacoity, loot, attack on police party etc are registered against him across different police station areas of 5 districts.

A total of 81 cases are registered against him in Gumla district, 16 in Simdega, 6 in Latehar, 4 in Lohardaga and 2 in Garhwa district of the state. (UNI)