Jharkhand Police recovers the body of Maoist killed in encounter

LATEHAR - Jharkhand Police has found the body of a Maoist near Ladi village falling under Barwadi police station of Latehar District here.

It is reported that he was killed in an encounter with the police personnel on Tuesday.

The gunfight between the police personnel and the Maoists took place at around 9.30 p.m. at Ladi village following an attack on a police patrolling team by the rebels.

At this, the police personnel retaliated and forced the Maoists to flee from the spot. They also recovered a loaded rifle near the dead body of the killed Maoist.

“A group of Maoists started firing at the patrolling team. Police also retaliated. During the search operation today in the morning, body of one slain Maoist was found and along with him a loaded .303 rifle was also recovered,” said Latehar Superintendent of Police uldip Dwivedi.

However, there are reports that in the cross fire between the police personnel and the Maoists, 30-year-old Jayanti Devi, a resident of Ladi village was also killed.

Bisram Singh, brother-in-law of the deceased woman said that she died on the spot during the encounter.

“We were inside our house and these people (patrolling team) were outside. Suddenly, we heard firing in which my sister-in-law died,” said Bisram Singh, brother-in-law of Jayanti Devi.

This encounter took place during the 48-hour shutdown call given by the Maoists in the three states of Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal.

The Maoists had called for a 48-hour shutdown demanding the release of six Maoists, who were arrested earlier.

Earlier this month, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram described the Maoists as anti-poor and anti-development.

He had said the Maoists have targeted all instruments of development.

“The Naxalites are anti-development and have targeted the very instruments of development - school buildings, roads, telephone towers etc. They know that development will mean the masses, especially poor tribals, wean them away from the grip of Naxalites,” Chidambaram said.

In 2009 alone, Maoists have demolished 71 school buildings, 23 Panchayat Bhawans, two power plants. They also destroyed 67 telephone exchanges or mobile towers.

Maoists also targeted railway property for 46 times and targeted specific industrial establishments at least 17 times in 2009. (ANI)