Maoist Area Commander Arun Killed in Encounter in West Singhbhum, Jharkhand

West Singhbhum, Jharkhand – In a major success against Naxal insurgency, a joint team of Jharkhand Police and CoBRA 209 Battalion gunned down CPI (Maoist) Area Commander Arun alias Varun alias Nilesh Madkam in an encounter on Wednesday morning in the Goilkera police station area of West Singhbhum district. Arun was a resident of Kotta police station area in Sukma district, Chhattisgarh, and was wanted in several serious criminal cases.

Police had received intelligence that top Maoist leader Misir Besra, along with his squad members, was planning a major attack on the occasion of Independence Day. Acting on this tip-off, the police and security forces launched a joint operation. Around 6 AM, security personnel came face-to-face with Maoists in the forest and hilly areas of Dugniya, Podahat, Tumbajang, and nearby locations under Goilkera police station limits.

In the exchange of fire, Area Commander Arun was killed while other Maoists managed to escape. From the spot, security forces recovered a rifle, cartridges, and other daily-use items. The slain Maoist was accused in multiple cases including murder, attacks on police, offences under the Explosives Act, and other Maoist-related crimes.

Police officials stated that the operation is still underway, with combing operations being carried out in the surrounding areas to track down the fleeing Maoists.