Top Maoist operative killed in encounter

A top Maoist operative has been gunned down in an encounter with security forces in Gumla district of Jharkhand, the police said here.
Getting a tip-off, personnel of the CoBRA and the police yesterday raided the jungles near Akhrakona and in the ensuing gun battle the Maoist, identified as Ashish'da, who carried Rs 25 lakh on his head, was killed, Superintendent of Police Chandan Kumar Jha said.
The rebel was a member of Bihar/Jharkhand special area committee.
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Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das today
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.

Appealing to the Maoists to join the mainstream, Das called upon them to be a part in the state's development, otherwise law would take its own course, the release added.