24-05-2025
Wanted JJMP chief, aide gunned down in Latehar
Daltonganj: Police gunned down Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad (JJMP) chief Pappu Lohra and the outfit's second-in-command Prabhat Ganjhu in a gunfight in Ichabar locality under the Latehar police station on Saturday morning.
JJMP is a Naxalite group which broke away from the Maoists.
Pappu and Prabhat were both residents of Latehar district.
Kumar Gaurav, Latehar SP, said Lohra and Ganjhu were killed in a retaliatory firing. "Pappu carried a reward of Rs 10 lakh while Ganjhu carried a reward of Rs 5 lakh," he said. Ashish Kumar, another injured JJMP operative, was found in the bushes in Ichabar and was being treated in police custody. Awadh Singh, a cop from the district police, sustained injuries to his shoulder and was referred to a Ranchi hospital where he was said to be stable.
In the operation, which was conducted by the district police, an Insas rifle, 20 empty cartridges, two magazine pouches, a motorcycle, three backpacks, a shoulder bag and a tarpaulin sheet were recovered.
Police said that a squad, led by Pappu, had gathered at Ichabar to attack local contractors and builders when they were surrounded. "Pappu was asked to surrender but he did not and was killed. He had three dozen criminal cases in different police stations.
The death of Pappu and Prabhat is an irreparable loss to the outfit," a source said.
"He was a former Maoist and had good tactical skills. The way he was neutralised shows that ultras have very little time and space left for themselves. With Pappu's death, the outfit virtually collapsed," Sunil Bhaskar, IG Palamu, said.
Insiders said Pappu had carried a larger-than-life image of himself. "He thought of himself as invincible but trusted no one. He loved "jalebis" and when his men would arrange the sweet for him, Pappu was the last one to eat as he suspected he could be poisoned," a source close to the outfit requesting anonymity said.
