Naxal Leader Carrying Rs 30 Lakh Killed in Varanasi
Naxal Leader Carrying Rs 30 Lakh Killed in Varanasi
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Key Points
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The Tritiya Prastuti Committee was formed in 2002 after breaking away from the CPI (Maoist) and primarily operates in Jharkhand’s Chatra, Palamu and Latehar districts.
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The encounter took place in the Lanka Maidan area under Ramnagar police station limits. Police said Ganjhu and his associate were riding a motorcycle from Tengra Mor toward Mughalsarai when officers tried to stop them.
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Police records identify Ganjhu by several additional aliases, including Dularchand Ganjhu, Sardar, Ranjan Ji and Phulchand Ganjhu; he was a resident of Lutu Sohavan village in Jharkhand’s Chatra district.
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His criminal record reportedly extended back to 1996, with early cases alleging rioting, kidnapping, murder, attacks on public servants, illegal arms possession and violations of the Criminal Law Amendment Act.
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Jharkhand Police spokesperson Narendra Singh said the state had received confirmation from the Uttar Pradesh STF that Ganjhu had been “neutralized in an encounter in Varanasi this morning.”
Brijesh Ganjhu, a top commander of the banned Tritiya Prastuti Committee, was killed in an encounter with Uttar Pradesh's Anti-Terrorism Squad in Varanasi on Sunday, according to News18. Ganjhu, who went by multiple aliases including Gopal Singh Bhokta, carried a combined bounty of Rs 30 lakh from Jharkhand police and the National Investigation Agency. Police said he opened fire while trying to escape on a motorcycle, and was wounded in the gunfight before dying at a hospital.
The encounter occurred in the Lanka Maidan area after officers received a tip about Ganjhu's location. Daily Pioneer reported that two officers were struck by bullets in their bulletproof jackets but remained unharmed. Ganjhu was wanted in dozens of cases spanning murder, extortion, illegal arms possession and terror financing dating back to 1996.
Who Was Brijesh Ganjhu
Ganjhu was a senior commander of the Tritiya Prastuti Committee, a banned extremist group formed in 2002 after splitting from the CPI (Maoist). OpIndia reported he primarily operated across Jharkhand's Chatra, Palamu and Latehar districts. He was a resident of Lutu Sohavan village in Chatra district and used at least five different aliases, including Dularchand Ganjhu, Sardar, Ranjan Ji and Phulchand Ganjhu.
His criminal record stretched nearly three decades, with cases involving rioting, kidnapping, murder and attacks on public servants. The bounty on his head reflected his status as one of the group's most wanted operatives in the region.
How the Encounter Unfolded
Police intercepted Ganjhu and an associate after receiving an informant's tip about their movements. Dainik Jagran reported the two were riding a motorcycle from Tengra Mor toward Mughalsarai when officers attempted to stop them near the Ramnagar police station area. Ganjhu allegedly opened fire to escape, triggering a gunfight with ATS personnel.
During the exchange, Ganjhu was wounded and later declared dead at a hospital. Two officers' bulletproof jackets were struck by gunfire, but both remained unharmed. Jharkhand Police spokesperson Narendra Singh confirmed that the state had received notification from the UP ATS that Ganjhu had been "neutralized in an encounter in Varanasi."
Years of Criminal Charges and Wanted Status
News18 documented that Ganjhu faced more than 50 criminal cases spanning three decades. His charges included murder, extortion, kidnapping, illegal weapons possession and violations of anti-terrorism laws. The combined bounty of Rs 30 lakh made him a priority target for both state and central law enforcement agencies.
The Tritiya Prastuti Committee, while smaller than the larger CPI (Maoist) faction, remained active in central India's mineral-rich regions. Ganjhu's death removes one of the group's most visible military leaders from the field, though operations continue in remote Jharkhand districts.
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