A remote village in Jharkhand's Chatra district was rocked by a violent gunfight in the early hours of Monday, resulting in the deaths of two former members of a banned Maoist splinter group and injuries to a local politician and his relative.
Deadly Clash in Maoist-Affected Village
The incident unfolded in Gendra village under the Kunda police station limits, a region known for Maoist activity. During the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, approximately six armed individuals stormed into the house of RJD leader Shyam Bhokta. The assailants opened indiscriminate fire, triggering a fierce confrontation.
According to local accounts, family members and villagers fought back against the attackers. In the ensuing chaos, two of the assailants were overpowered by the villagers and beaten to death. The deceased were identified as Divendra Ganjhu and Churaman Ganjhu, both former cadres of the banned Tritiya Sammelan Prastuti Committee (TSPC).
Injured Politician Linked to Terror Funding Case
The gunfire left RJD leader Shyam Bhokta and his brother-in-law, Gopal Ganjhu, with serious bullet wounds. Shyam Bhokta sustained a gunshot injury to the neck, while Gopal was shot in the head. They were first taken to hospitals in Pratappur and Daltonganj before being referred to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (Rims) in Ranchi for advanced treatment.
Notably, Shyam Bhokta is a former TSPC cadre and is currently an accused in a terror-funding case being investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Police records indicate that the deceased Divendra Ganjhu had over 30 criminal cases registered against him across various police stations.
Police Probe Points to Old Enmity
Chatra Superintendent of Police Sumit Kumar Agrawal stated that the police have identified all involved parties and confirmed a history of rivalry among them stemming from their past association with the TSPC. The preliminary investigation suggests the violent attack was the result of an old enmity.
Authorities are actively investigating whether the shootout was a consequence of internal rivalry within the outlawed group, a gang war, or a targeted attack linked to past conflicts. The TSPC itself is a breakaway faction of the Communist Party of India (Maoist).
The incident has sent shockwaves through the remote village, highlighting the persistent challenges of law and order in Maoist-affected areas of Jharkhand.
