Jharkhand Security Forces Eliminate Top PLFI Leader Martin Kerketta in Major Anti-Naxal Operation

In a notable development for Jharkhand's efforts against Naxal activities, security forces successfully eliminated Martin Kerketta, a self-proclaimed leader of the prohibited People’s Liberation Front of India (PLFI), during an intense encounter in the Gumla district late on Tuesday night.

Kerketta, one of the most sought-after Maoist leaders in the region, had a bounty of ₹15 lakh on his head and was implicated in over 70 cases related to violence, extortion, and insurgency. He was infamous for instilling fear across several districts including Gumla, Khunti, Simdega, Lohardaga, and Ranchi, making him a primary target for the state's intelligence agencies over the years.

Gumla Superintendent of Police Haris Bin Zama stated that their team received intelligence indicating that Kerketta and his armed associates had entered Changabari Upartoli within the jurisdiction of Kamdara police station, allegedly to demand money from a local businessman. Responding promptly, a joint operation involving the district’s anti-Naxal Quick Response Team (QRT) and officers from nearby police stations was initiated to encircle and search the area.

Upon approaching, the Maoists began firing, leading to a fierce gunfight. Kerketta was killed during the exchange, and security forces retrieved weapons and ammunition from the scene. A search operation is ongoing in the area to locate other members of his group.

A resident of Redma village in Kamdara, Kerketta had a close connection with former PLFI chief Dinesh Gop and ascended to leadership following Gop's arrest in Nepal two years prior. He was a member of the PLFI central committee and had managed to evade capture in multiple prior encounters.

"This represents a significant setback to PLFI's activities in Jharkhand," stated SP Zama. "The neutralization of Martin Kerketta signifies an important victory in our ongoing efforts to dismantle extremist networks."