Full Breakdown
Jharkhand Naxal Commander Brijesh Ganjhu Killed in Varanasi Encounter
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Core Event: Police Neutralize Wanted Naxal Leader
On September 20, Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) officers engaged a motorcycle-bound suspect near Lanka Maidan, Ramnagar, Varanasi. The suspect, identified as Brijesh Ganjhu alias Gopal Singh Bhokta, opened fire and was shot dead. He was taken to a hospital where doctors declared him dead on arrival. Two ATS officers—Deputy Superintendent of Police Vipin Rai and Head Constable Nitendra Krishna—sustained bullet impacts on their bullet-proof jackets but were unharmed.
Background & Context
The Tritiya Prastuti Committee (TPC), a banned splinter of the CPI (Maoist), operates mainly in Jharkhand. Ganjhu, the TPC chief, was wanted in multiple cases, including two investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Key Figures & Groups
- Brijesh Ganjhu (alias Gopal Singh Bhokta) – TPC chief, from Lutu village, Chatra district, Jharkhand.
- Vipin Rai – Deputy Superintendent, Uttar Pradesh ATS.
- Nitendra Krishna – Head Constable, Uttar Pradesh ATS.
- Amitabh Yash – Additional Director General (Law and Order), Uttar Pradesh Police.
- Narendra Singh – Inspector General (Operations), Jharkhand Police.
Timeline
- September 20 (early hours) – ATS received a tip-off about Ganjhu’s movement from Tengra Mor toward Mughalsarai via Ramnagar.
- Encounter – Police attempted to intercept; Ganjhu jumped off his bike, fired, and was shot.
- Aftermath – He was taken to a hospital and declared dead; arms and ammunition were recovered; legal formalities began.
Data & Statistics
- Bounty: Rs 30 lakh total (Rs 25 lakh Jharkhand government + Rs 5 lakh NIA).
- Arms recovered: Two pistols and a carbine.
- Criminal cases: Approximately 50 cases, two under NIA investigation.
- Injuries to police: Bullet-proof jackets struck; no injuries.
Official Statements & Responses
Jharkhand Police IG Narendra Singh confirmed the neutralisation and said senior officials were arriving to complete legal procedures.
Verbatim Quotes
- “A large quantity of arms and ammunition was recovered from his possession, including two pistols and a carbine. He was facing around 50 criminal cases—two of which were investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA)—and carried a combined bounty of Rs 30 lakh.” — Additional Director General
- “Today, on September 20, at 4:00 am, acting on confidential information, the UP ATS attempted to intercept a motorcyclist in the Ramnagar police station area of Banaras. Instead of stopping, the motorcyclist opened fire on the ATS team. He was killed in retaliatory fire.” — ADG
- “He was a commander of the banned Naxal organisation 'Tritiya Prastuti Committee'. A reward of Rs 5 lakh from the NIA and Rs 25 lakh from the Jharkhand government had been announced for him,” — Amitabh Yash
Why It Matters
The death of the TPC chief removes a senior operative from the Naxal insurgency’s leadership, potentially disrupting the group’s operations beyond Jharkhand. The recovered firearms highlight the armed nature of the organization and may aid investigations into terror-funding and extortion networks. The incident also shows the effectiveness of inter-state intelligence sharing.