Security forces have gunned down a top Maoist commander Ashish Yadav, carrying a reward of Rs 25 lakh, in an encounter in Jharkhand’s Gumla.
Police said that Ashish Yadav was the member of the Bihar-Jharkhand Special Area Committee (BJ-SAC) and had been the mastermind behind many operations over the last few years.
ALSO READ: Barack Obama urges unity on eve of 9/11 anniversary
They said Yadav had a reward of Rs 25 lakh on his head and was contributory in propelling many Naxal attacks on security forces in the two states.
IG (Operations) and spokesperson M S Bhatia said, “We have recovered three weapons; one INSAS rifle, one SLR, and another high calibre rifle, besides another weapon and cartridges. These weapons were, in all probability, looted from the police. His elimination is a major achievement in our fight against Naxals.”
Meanwhile, Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das congratulated the CRPF, district police and CoBRA for gunning down the dreaded Maoist operative. The success achieved by the security forces would give a big boost in rooting out Left Wing Extremism in the state, a release said here.
He also appealed the Maoists to join the mainstream, and be the part of the state’s development, otherwise, law would take its own course, the release added.