Jharkhand police arrest six ultras in Khunti, Latehar; arms, explosives seized

Ranchi — Jharkhand Police on Monday arrested six active members of banned outfits in coordinated operations across Khunti and Latehar districts and recovered arms, ammunition and materials suspected to be used for terror acts.

In Khunti, four cadres of the People’s Liberation Front of India (PLFI) were arrested after an intelligence tip-off. The detained include accused history-sheeter Ojha Pahan (alias Ojha Topno), and cadres Xavier Kongadi, Santosh Kongadi and Jibnus Aind (alias Dadhiyal). A special team led by SDPO Torpa Christopher Kerketta carried out a raid near Jibilong Tongri in the Rania police station area, where the group was allegedly planning extortion of contractors and traders.

Police recovered two country-made pistols (one 7.65 mm, loaded), several live rounds, mobile phones, SIM cards and two petrol bottles suspected for use in arson. Authorities said the group was linked to recent incidents of violence, including torching a road roller on May 27 and attempting to burn a JCB on August 8. Seventeen criminal cases — including murder, arson, extortion and Arms Act violations — are registered against Ojha Pahan in Khunti and Gumla.

In Latehar, two members of the banned Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad (JJMP), identified as Amin Ansari (30) and Krishna Sahu (alias Krishna Prasad, 30), were arrested following a separate intelligence-led operation headed by SDPO Arvind Kumar. Both have reportedly confessed to involvement in multiple extremist incidents, the police said.

Officials described the raids as part of an intensified drive to curb terror, extortion and violent activities by banned outfits in Jharkhand.

With inputs from IANS