Rourkela: Two members of the People’s Liberation Front of India (PLFI) were killed in an exchange of fire with the local police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans at Siragida village, 20 km from Jarda Pankadihi under Gurundia police limits in Sundargarh district Saturday.
The police ascertained one of the deceased as Shankar Munda (22) while another was identified as his younger brother Bheema Munda alias Buttu Munda (21), sources said. Police confirmed that the exchange of fire took place when the police personnel went on a combing operation on the outskirts near Siragida village.
Police busted the camp and seized carbine guns, sten guns, 56 bullets, magazines, three mobile phones, a Jharkhand Ranchi division motorbike, medicines, injections, bag, edibles, maps and `54, 000 from the spot. More than 13 cases are pending against Shankar at Bisra, Plant Site, Chandiposh, Bonai, Raeboga, Jharkhand and Manoharpur police stations.
Shankar was also involved in the loot of `3.70 lakh from Malidihi-based Gramya Bank under Rajgangpur police limits August 30, 2015. Western range IG R K Sharma revealed it at a press meet. The siblings reportedly handled crimes in Jharkhand-Orissa border, Sharma said.
In a bid to spread terror and make their presence, 10-12 PLFI militants set up a huge camp in a forest near the village. Acting on a tip-off, Sundargarh and Rourkela police in a combined operation with CRPF jawans conducted a raid in the forest.
The PLFI militants confronted the police first and opened fire at them. Retaliating back, police also exchanged fire and in turn gunned down two militants.
The exchange of fire took place atleast for half an hour. However, atleast 10 militants managed to escape, sources said.
The militants mostly targeted and extorted businessman and industrialists from Bisra, Hathibari, Nuagaon, Gurundia, Chandiposh in Sundargarh district. They also targeted crusher and brick-kiln owners.
Combing operation was intensified after the incident. More police, including both Rourkela and Sundargarh police and CRPF officials were deployed in a large number to continue the combing operation in the forest. Efforts were made to track the missing militants who managed to escape, officials said.
Meanwhile, the bodies were handed over to their father Chunda Munda after post-mortem. Chunda said the two brothers left family seven months ago. Since then they did not return back to the village nor kept any contact with them, he said.
They earlier worked as bonded labourers in Delhi and Mumbai and also helped in agriculture before joining the PLFI, he added. PNN