Jharkhand: Maoist commander killed in gunfight with security forces, say police

A Maoist commander was killed in a gunfight with security forces in West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand on Sunday morning, the Hindustan Times quoted police as saying.

Amit Hansda, alias Upton, was the zonal commander of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) and reportedly carried a reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head, police added.

West Singhbhum Superintendent of Police Rakesh Ranjan told the Hindustan Times that around 6.30 am on Sunday, a joint team of the district police, Central Reserve Police Force, its specialised Commando Battalion for Resolute Action and the Jharkhand Jaguar anti-Maoist task force launched a search operation in the Relaparal forest after receiving inputs about suspected Maoists in the area.

A gunfight reportedly broke out around 8 am.

“The security forces retaliated with heavy firing,” the newspaper quoted Ranjan as saying. “The body of zonal commander Amit Hansda was recovered from the site. A search operation is still ongoing.”

Upton, originally from Bokaro district, was active for the past decade in West Singhbhum, Seraikela-Kharsawan, and Khunti districts, police said.

He reportedly has several cases registered against him for attacks on security forces, obstructing road construction and other government projects.

Till July, 21 suspected Maoists have been killed across Jharkhand in 14 gunfights with security forces, The New Indian Express reported.

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