Varanasi, 20 Sept (HS): Amidst the Yogi Adityanath

government's strict policy on law and order in Uttar Pradesh, the UP

Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) carried out a major operation in Varanasi and killed

Brijesh Ganjhu alias Gopal Singh Bhokta alias Sardarji, the supremo of the

banned Naxalite organization Tritiya Prastuti Committee (TPC), in an encounter.

The Jharkhand Police and the NIA had announced a reward of Rs. 30 lakh on

Brijesh, who had been absconding for nearly 20 years. He had more than 50 cases

registered against him, including murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping,

extortion, arson, criminal conspiracy, and attacks on public servants. This

also includes cases of murder of civilians and policemen. Meanwhile, DGP Rajiv

Krishna has announced a reward of Rs. 2 lakh for the ATS team involved in the

encounter.

The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) received

information that Naxalites from Jharkhand were about to cross into the Uttar

Pradesh border. TPC supremo Brijesh Ganjhu, disguised as a terrorist, was

hiding in various states, evading security agencies, and was approaching

Varanasi with his associates. Based on this information, ATS teams were

deployed along the border areas of Mirzapur and Sonbhadra, connecting Varanasi,

and along potential transit routes.

Started firing as soon as he saw the ATS: Early Sunday

morning, information was received that Brijesh had entered Varanasi and was

heading towards Lanka Maidan in the Ramnagar police station area. ATS teams

deployed around Lanka Maidan. Meanwhile, two men were seen approaching on a

motorcycle from the GT Road. When an attempt was made to stop them, the

motorcycle riders opened fire on the ATS team.

During the encounter, Deputy Superintendent of Police Vipin

Kumar Rai and Chief Constable Nitin Krishna, who were leading the police team,

were also shot. However, both were wearing bulletproof jackets, which saved

their lives. Brijesh Ganjhu was also shot in the retaliatory fire, and his

other companion fled the scene. The injured Brijesh was immediately taken to

the hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Brijesh Ganjhu had a reward of Rs. 2.5 million issued by the

Jharkhand Police and Rs. 0.5 million by the NIA. He was also wanted in NIA

cases RC-6/2018 and RC-22/2018. He had more than 50 cases registered against

him, including murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, criminal conspiracy,

extortion, arson, damage to property, assault on public servants, and

possession of illegal weapons and explosives. He also faced charges under

sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

From CPI (Maoist) to TPC: Brijesh was initially associated

with the CPI (Maoist) and later became active in violent Naxalite activities,

becoming the supremo of the TPC. Following the encounter, two pistols, a

carbine, a large quantity of ammunition, and Rs. 100,000 in cash were recovered

from the scene.

The UP ATS had previously arrested TPC sub-zonal commander

Umesh alias Nagina, who had a reward of five lakh rupees announced by

Jharkhand. Naxalite commander Brijesh Ganjhu was originally from Lootu village

in Chatra district. However, he had been living in various locations and

changing names for some time. Police records also show him using names like

Gopal Singh Bhokta, Dularchand Ganjhu, Ranjan, Fulchand Ganjhu, and Sardar.

Brijesh's father, Panchu Ganjhu, died long ago. He had been active in Naxalite

activities for a long time. In Chatra alone, he had 39 cases registered against

him. He previously extorted money from beedi leaf contractors. He also expanded

his network to parts of Bihar. In 2010, he was elected unopposed as the head of

the Lawalaung Panchayat.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi