RANCHI: The chief of the banned Maoist organisation 'Tritiya Prastuti Committee' (TPC), Brijesh Ganjhu (also known as Gopal Singh Bhokta), in Jharkhand, was killed in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh ATS. IG (STF) Prem Gautam briefed Jharkhand Police on the entire matter and confirmed the killing on Sunday.
A combined reward of Rs 30 lakh had been announced for Brijesh’s arrest by the Jharkhand government and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) before he died. The Jharkhand government had placed a bounty of Rs 25 lakh, while the NIA had announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh.
According to senior Police officials in Jharkhand, the encounter between the ATS and Brijesh took place early Sunday morning at Lanka Maidan near Tengra More in the Ramnagar police station area of Varanasi.
After sustaining a gunshot wound, he was taken to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
According to the UP ATS, they received intelligence inputs that Brijesh was in Varanasi and was expected to pass through a specific route on a motorcycle in the morning. Acting on the information, the ATS team laid a trap in the Tengra Mor area. At around 5:00 AM, the team signalled Brijesh, who was approaching on a motorcycle, to stop.
Instead of stopping, Brijesh allegedly opened fire on the ATS team, triggering a gun battle. He was hit during the ATS's firing in retaliation. The team rushed him to the district hospital, where doctors declared him dead. The UP ATS also informed that an accomplice managed to flee the spot during the encounter. The ATS recovered two pistols, several live cartridges, and spent shell casings from Brijesh at the site.
During the exchange of fire, bullets fired by Brijesh struck the bulletproof jackets of ATS DSP Vipin Rai and Head Constable Nitendra Krishna. Both are reported to be safe.
Brijesh had long been on the radar of security agencies. He was declared wanted about eight years ago in connection with a terror-funding case investigated by the NIA.
Following the ATS operation, investigations are now underway regarding the cases registered against him and the network linked to his Maoist activities. The police are also trying to ascertain how long Brijesh had been living in Varanasi and who his contacts were.
Brijesh hailed from the Lawalong police station area of Chatra district and had long been active in Naxal activities in Jharkhand. In the Palamu division, TPC-linked Naxals have been extorting levies from ‘tendu’ leaf (bidi leaf) contractors.
Meanwhile, following the launch of CCL's Amrapali and Magadh coal projects in Chatra, the organisation also targeted the coal trade. There, Maoist squads have been extorting levies from outsourcing and transportation companies engaged in coal mining. Brijesh also faced allegations of extortion targeting businessmen, transporters, and contractors.
