Top Maoist Martin Kerketta Killed in Gunfight in Jharkhand’s Gumla; Carried Rs 15 Lakh Bounty

Gumla — Martin Kerketta, the top Maoist commander of the banned PLFI outfit and a wanted figure with a Rs 15 lakh bounty, was killed in a late-night encounter with police in Gumla district on Tuesday, officials confirmed.

Kerketta, a notorious name across five districts — Gumla, Khunti, Simdega, Lohardaga, and Ranchi — was linked to over 70 cases involving violent insurgent activities.

According to SP Haris Bin Zama, the police received inputs about an armed PLFI unit led by Kerketta attempting extortion from a businessman in Changabari Upartoli under Kamdara police station.

A swift joint operation by the district’s Quick Response Team (QRT) and local police led to a gunfight. Kerketta opened fire, prompting retaliation in which he was killed. Weapons and ammunition were seized at the scene.

A large-scale search was launched to track down other members of his group.

Kerketta, from Redma village, had risen through PLFI ranks under the mentorship of Dinesh Gop, assuming leadership after Gop’s arrest in Nepal two years ago.

Calling the encounter a breakthrough, SP Zama said,

“This is a major win for our anti-Naxal operations.”

With inputs from IANS