Archive · 21 Sep 2026
Brother Questions Jharkhand Maoist’s Varanasi Encounter, Seeks CBI Probe
Brijesh Ganjhu, a wanted Maoist leader, was killed in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
Police said he was stopped while riding a motorcycle and fired at them.
They said he was hurt in the exchange of gunfire and later died in a hospital.
His brother Ganesh Ganjhu does not believe this account.
Ganesh said Brijesh had been taken from Jharkhand before being killed.
He asked for an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
Ganesh also said his brother had helped poor people and supported social activities.
Police and the family therefore give different accounts of what happened.
Ganesh Ganjhu questioned the killing of his brother Brijesh Ganjhu in a Varanasi encounter.
He alleged Brijesh was detained in Jharkhand and taken to Uttar Pradesh before being killed.
The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force said Brijesh fired at officers and died from retaliatory gunfire.
Brijesh carried rewards of Rs 25 lakh from Jharkhand and Rs 5 lakh from the National Investigation Agency.
Ganesh urged Chief Minister Hemant Soren to order a CBI inquiry and threatened phased agitation.
- Who
- Brijesh Ganjhu, also identified as Gopal Singh Bhokta, was killed; his brother Ganesh Ganjhu challenged the police account.
- What
- Brijesh was killed in an encounter that police described as an exchange of gunfire, while his brother alleged it was a staged operation.
- When
- The encounter occurred on Sunday morning, and the body reached Brijesh’s village on Monday.
- Where
- The encounter took place in the Ramnagar area of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh; Brijesh’s body was taken to Luttu Sohawan in Chatra district, Jharkhand.
- Why
- Police said Brijesh fired at the security team; his brother alleged a conspiracy and sought an independent investigation.
Family’s allegations
Police account
Whether the encounter was genuine
Family’s allegations
Ganesh Ganjhu alleged that the operation was fake and claimed Brijesh was picked up in Chatra and taken to Uttar Pradesh as part of a conspiracy.
Police account
The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force maintained that Brijesh was intercepted while riding a motorcycle in Varanasi and opened fire on the security team.
Possibility of firing
Family’s allegations
Ganesh questioned how Brijesh could fire two pistols simultaneously while riding a motorcycle.
Police account
Police said Brijesh fired at the team and was injured during retaliatory action.
Approach to Naxalism
Family’s allegations
Ganesh argued that Naxalism should be addressed through its underlying causes and socio-economic factors rather than only security operations.
Police account
The article reports the police account of the operation but does not provide a separate police position on this broader policy question.
- Deceased
- Brijesh Ganjhu, also known as Gopal Singh Bhokta
- Police agency
- Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force
- Encounter location
- Ramnagar area, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
- Reported rewards
- Rs 25 lakh from the Jharkhand government and Rs 5 lakh from the National Investigation Agency
- Family demand
- A Central Bureau of Investigation probe
- Native village
- Luttu Sohawan under Lawalong police station limits, Chatra district
- Police account
- Brijesh allegedly fired at officers and died after being injured in retaliatory action