Archive · 20 Sep 2026
Maoist Leader With Rs 30 Lakh Bounty Killed
Brijesh Ganjhu was a wanted Maoist leader from Jharkhand.
He was killed during a gunfight with Uttar Pradesh police in Varanasi.
Police said officers had received information that he was travelling by motorcycle.
They tried to stop him near Tengra Mod.
Police said he fired first, and officers then returned fire.
Ganjhu was taken to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
One person travelling with him escaped.
Authorities said Ganjhu had a total reward of Rs 30 lakh for information leading to his arrest.
Tritiya Prastuti Committee chief Brijesh Ganjhu was killed in a Varanasi encounter.
The encounter occurred around 5 a.m. near Tengra Mod on Sunday.
Police said Ganjhu opened fire after Uttar Pradesh ATS personnel signalled him to stop.
An associate escaped, while two pistols, ammunition and spent shells were recovered.
Ganjhu was wanted in murder, extortion, arms and terror-financing cases.
- Who
- Brijesh Ganjhu alias Gopal Singh Bhokta, chief of the banned Tritiya Prastuti Committee, was killed by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad.
- What
- Ganjhu was killed in an exchange of fire during an alleged police encounter.
- When
- Sunday morning at around 5 a.m.
- Where
- Near Tengra Mod in the Ramnagar police station area of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
- Why
- The Uttar Pradesh ATS said it acted on intelligence that Ganjhu was travelling through the area and opened fire when officers tried to stop him.
- Bounty
- Rs 30 lakh in total: Rs 25 lakh from the Jharkhand government and Rs 5 lakh from the National Investigation Agency.
- Group
- Tritiya Prastuti Committee, a banned Maoist outfit.
- Encounter location
- Tengra Mod, near the Ramnagar police station area of Varanasi.
- Recovered items
- Two pistols, live cartridges and spent shells.
- Police injuries
- Bullets fired by Ganjhu struck the bulletproof jackets of two Uttar Pradesh ATS personnel.
- Wanted cases
- Murder, extortion, illegal arms activities and terror financing.
- Escaped associate
- One of Ganjhu's associates fled the encounter site.