A self-styled 'Area Commander' of an ultra-Left outfit, wanted in connection with at least 24 cases, was killed and another cadre injured in an encounter with police at Kunjla.
Jharkhand Director General of Police D K Pandey said here that a police force led by ASI Phillip Kujjur rushed to the spot late last night on a tip off that a group of People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI) activists had assembled in the village.
The police asked the ultras to surrender but they opened fire on the police which forced them to retaliate, Pandey said.
PLFI 'Area Commander' Nicholas Pahan, who was wanted in about two dozen cases including 15 cases under Torpa police station only, was killed in the cross firing while an ultra Surendra Kant Choubey was injured, he said.
Choubey alias Suren Pandit, 21, a resident of Kutam in Torpa, was arrested by the police and Pahan's body was recovered following a search, the DGP said.
A 9mm loaded pistol, one magazine, three country-made pistols, six live cartridges, two empty cartridges, three mobile phones and PLFI letter pads were recovered from their possession, he said.
Choubey told police that altogether five persons were in their group who had opened fire on the police but three of them escaped.
The DGP has awarded Rs 50,000 to each of the policemen and assured them that their names would be recommended for gallantry award.
