India: 3 PLFI terrorists killed in encounter with security forces

Ranchi, Feb 24 (PTI) Three ultras of the banned Peoples Liberation Front of India (PLFI) were killed in an encounter with security forces in Gumla district on Sunday, a senior police officer said.

The incident happened at Amtoli forest under the jurisdiction of Kamdara police station.

Additional Director General of Police (Operation) M L Meena told PTI that the three were killed during the encounter with the personnel of CRPFs CoBRA unit and the Gumla district police, about 94 km from here.

Two AK-47 rifles, two .315 mm rifles, three pistols, a large number of bullets and Rs 1.25 lakh in cash were among the materials recovered from the spot, a police statement said.

A search operation was launched after the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Gumla district, Aswini Kumar Sinha, received an information that PLFI chief Dinesh Gope was sighted in the Amtoli forest.

The ultras opened fire as soon as they sighted the security forces and three ultras were killed when the security forces returned fire, the statement said.

The bodies were recovered during the post-encounter search operation, it said.

Two ultras were identified as PLFI's area commander Guju Gope, who was carrying a reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head, and Vikas.

The rest of the ultras fled the scene, it said.

Guju Gope was accused of killing several policemen, including a police officer, the statement said.