In a significant development for Jharkhand's security forces, two active operatives of the Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad (JJMP) surrendered before senior police officials in Latehar on Wednesday. The surrender took place without any arms or ammunition being presented.
Wanted Commander With Substantial Bounty
The surrendered individuals were identified as Brajesh Yadav alias Rakesh (32) and Awadesh Lohra alias Rohit Lohra (26). Both men submitted themselves before IG (Palamu) Shailendra Kumar Sinha, marking a notable achievement for the state police.
Latehar SP Kumar Gaurav revealed that Brajesh Yadav served as a sub-zonal commander within the JJMP hierarchy and carried a substantial bounty of ₹5 lakh on his head. The seasoned extremist faced 10 criminal cases across multiple districts, with two cases registered in Latehar and the remaining eight in Gumla.
Criminal History and Organizational Shifts
Brajesh's involvement with left-wing extremism dates back more than a decade. He was initially jailed in 2010 for his activities with the CPI (Maoists). Following his release in 2018, he transitioned to the JJMP, continuing his involvement with extremist activities.
Awadesh Lohra had functioned as an area commander within the organization but began distancing himself from the outfit after the death of JJMP chief Pappu Lohra earlier this year. Police officials noted that constant movement and fear of being killed in an encounter ultimately motivated his decision to surrender.
Police Recovery and Organization's Decline
SP Kumar Gaurav provided additional context about the weapons previously used by the surrendered operatives. "We had already recovered Brajesh's SLR in a fight with the JJMP ultras when he threw his weapon only to run for life in the past," the SP stated.
Regarding Awadesh's disarmament, Gaurav added, "Awadesh had already deposited his arms with the JJMP outfit before bidding goodbye to it."
IG Shailendra Kumar Sinha characterized the JJMP as being on its "deathbed" and used the opportunity to urge other left-wing extremists to follow the example set by Brajesh and Awadesh. He encouraged them to surrender and reintegrate into mainstream society, emphasizing the state's willingness to facilitate their rehabilitation.
