New Delhi, November 1, 2023: In a significant development, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has attached an Immovable property, a house, belonging to the absconding accused and top Maoist, Ravinder Ganjhu, as per the provisions of Section 25(1) of UA(P) Act, 1967 in NIA case RC-02/2022/NIA/RNC.
The case pertains to the arrest of the leaders and cadres of proscribed terrorist organisation CPI (Maoist) and seizure of arms and ammunition. The operation took place under the jurisdiction of PS-Peshrar, Lohardaga, Jharkhand. During this operation, a gathering of CPI (Maoist) members, including the Regional Commander Ravinder Ganjhu, was detected in the forest area of Bulbul.
It was revealed that this assembly of Maoist leaders and cadres, consisting of individuals, such as Balram Oraon, Muneshwar Ganjhu, Balak Ganjhu, Dinesh Nagesia, Aghnu Ganjhu, Lajim Ansari, Markush Nagesia, Sanjay Nagesia, Sheela Kherwar, Lalita Devi, and an estimated 45-60 additional cadres, had congregated with the intentions of carrying out incidents against security forces operating in the area, including the Bauxite Mines Area.
Accordingly, a joint operation by the local Police and CRPF was conducted and during the search, active cadres of CPI (Maoist) had fired indiscriminately upon the security forces enroute Bahabar forest, at Harkatta Toli and Banglapat. Following the encounter, an extensive search of the area surrounding the incident site led to the discovery of a big cache of arms, ammunition, explosives, and other related items.
The case was initially filed as FIR no. 05/2022, dated 21.02.2022, at PS Peshrar, District Lohardaga, Jharkhand. The original case was filed under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Arms Act, the Explosive Substances Act 1908, the CLA Act, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UA(P) Act) against 17 accused individuals and unidentified armed cadres affiliated with the CPI (Maoist). The NIA subsequently re-registered the case as RC-02/2022/NIA/RNC on 14.06.2022.
Investigations in this case established that a house, located at Banjhitoli, Hesla Mauza, under Police Station-Chandwa, District-Latehar, Jharkhand, had been illicitly constructed by the accused Ravinder Ganjhu. This house was built with the active involvement of his close associate and co-accused, Raju Kumar, also known as Raju Sahu, son of Late Birendra Prasad, hailing from Vill Bishramgarh, PS-Kuru, Dist- Lohardaga, Jharkhand.
Investigations revealed that Ravinder Ganjhu invested funds in the construction of this property, which were obtained through extortion and levy collection from local contractors and businessmen. The house has been attached by the NIA under the provisions of Section 25(1) of UA(P) Act, 1967.
Investigations further established that Ravinder Ganjhu, son of Late Ramavart Ganjhu, and a resident of Vill-Hesla Banjhitoli, PS-Chandwa, Dist-Latehar, Jharkhand, is a prominent Maoist leader and Regional Committee Member of the proscribed terrorist organisation, CPI (Maoist). He was involved in several terrorist acts committed by the cadres of CPI (Maoist) and his extensive criminal involvement had led to the registration of more than 55 cases against him across various Police Stations in Jharkhand.
The Jharkhand Government and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) have declared big rewards for his apprehension. A reward of 15 lakhs was announced by the Jharkhand Government, while the NIA has declared an additional reward of 5 lakh rupees.