GUMLA: In a major success for the Jharkhand Police, Martin Kerketta, the chief of the People’s Liberation Front of India (PLFI), was gunned down during an encounter in the Parhi-Chhangabari forests of Gumla late on Tuesday night.
Kerketta carried a bounty of ₹15 lakh on his head and had been on the police radar for a long time.
According to police sources, Kerketta had assumed leadership of the PLFI following the arrest of its former chief, Dinesh Gope, in Nepal. Both Gope and Kerketta were childhood friends and had studied together, later working jointly to expand the organisation.
Terming it a significant blow to the PLFI, an offshoot of the banned CPI (Maoist), police officials said the operation was launched following a tip-off that Kerketta was in the area to collect extortion money from a local businessman. A team, led by Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Nazir Akhtar, was dispatched to trace his location.
On spotting the police, Kerketta and his squad opened fire. In retaliatory firing, Kerketta was killed on the spot, officials said.
“A few weapons have been recovered from the encounter site,” said the Superintendent of Police. “Two firearms were seized. A team of Gumla police was actively involved in the operation,” he added.
It is believed that two other Maoist operatives were also injured during the exchange of fire. Search operations are ongoing in the area.
Earlier, former PLFI supremo Dinesh Gope, who carried a reward of ₹25 lakh, was arrested from Nepal in a joint operation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Jharkhand Police. Following his arrest, Kerketta took over the reins of the outfit.
Kerketta, a resident of Redma village in Kamdara, was an active member of the PLFI’s central committee. He played a key role in formulating strategies related to extortion, intimidation, and armed operations. His criminal activities largely revolved around extortion in the name of the PLFI.
Police officials stated that Kerketta’s influence in the organisation stemmed from his longstanding association with Dinesh Gope. The two were schoolmates in Mahugaon under the Lapung Block of Ranchi district.