Top PLFI militant killed in encounter in Jharkhand

A self-styled zonal commander of the banned Peoples Liberation Front of India (PLFI), carrying a Rs 2 lakh reward on his head, was killed Friday in an encounter with security forces in Simdega district, police said.

Simdega Superintendent of Police, Sanjeev Kumar told reporters that the police got information that the self-styled zonal commander of PLFI, identified as Vijay Dang, was in the Jhapla forest of Kolebira in the district.

When a police team surrounded the area, the extremists opened fire and in the retaliatory fire Dang was killed while his five to seven associates melted into the forests, the SP said.

Around 100 rounds were exchanged between the two sides during the half-an-hour gunfire, he said.

During the search operation, the police recovered a country-made gun, a bullet of .303 gun, two shells of AK-47, two mobile phones and a small diary from the encounter spot.

Dang was involved in 22 cases and was even wanted in neighbouring Odishas Sundargarh district, the SP said.

He was also involved in the killing of BJP leader Manoj Nagesia.