Two policemen were martyred and another was seriously injured in an encounter with the banned Maoist outfit, Tritiya Sammelan Prastuti Committee (TSPC), in Palamu district of Jharkhand on Wednesday.
The injured jawan is currently undergoing treatment at Medinirai Medical College and Hospital. Among the martyrs was the bodyguard of Palamu ASP (Operations), said Superintendent of Police Reeshma Rameshan. The encounter broke out during a search operation launched by Palamu Police against Shashikant Ganjhu, a TSPC commander carrying a bounty of Rs 10 lakh.
The police had reached Kedal village under Manatu police station area—also the native place of Ganjhu—when the armed exchange took place.
During the gunfight, three policemen were shot. They were rushed to Medinirai Medical College and Hospital, where doctors declared two of them dead on arrival. The injured jawan remains under medical care. Rameshan said the operation was specifically targeting TSPC cadres.
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“Two of our brave policemen have sacrificed their lives, and one is injured. We will continue our operations against these extremists,” she said.
The martyrs have been identified as Santan Kumar Mehta, a resident of Sowa Barewa under Haidarnagar police station, and Sunil Ram of Parta village in the same police station area. The injured jawan, Rohit Kumar, hails from Lalgarh in the Rehla police station area.
The encounter took place barely 100 meters from Shashikant Ganjhu’s house, when TSPC operatives suddenly opened fire on the police team. Following the incident, senior officials, including SP Rameshan and DIG Naushad Alam, rushed to the spot to review the situation. TSPC’s top commander Shashikant Ganjhu, who carries a government-announced reward of Rs 10 lakh, is considered one of the most influential extremist leaders in the region. His stronghold spans parts of Palamu and Chatra, from where he is believed to direct major Naxalite operations.
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