A 41-year-old deputy commandant-rank official of Jharkhand Jaguar, an anti-Maoist force of state police, was killed in an encounter in Latehar district on Tuesday, a senior official said.
A member of the banned outfit, Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad, was also gunned down within the encounter which came about inside Salayya forest, IG (Operations) and Jharkhand Police spokesperson A V Homkar said.
“Deputy Commandant and Assault Commander of Jharkhand Jaguar Rajesh Kumar was injured during an encounter with extremists at Latehar forests. He was airlifted to Ranchi but didn’t survive,” Mr Homkar told PTI.
Several weapons, including an AK-47 rifle, were recovered from the encounter site, he said.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren said the state lost the deputy commandant during a pursuit operation.
“May God give peace to the soul of the brave martyr and provides strength to the bereaved family in contact the grief,” Mr Soren said during a tweet.
