Maoist commander Chhotu Kharwar, a feared figure with a bounty of ₹15 lakh on his head, was killed during a violent clash between rival Maoist factions in the Nawadih area of Latehar on Tuesday night. His death marks a significant setback for the CPI (Maoist) organization in Jharkhand.
Latehar police swiftly recovered Chhotu’s body after the clash. Officials stated that his death deals a heavy blow to Maoist operations in the region, where he had established a reign of terror.
Chhotu Kharwar, also known as “Sujit Ji” within Maoist circles, was wanted in over 100 criminal cases, including extortion, murder, and attacks on security forces. He further had terrorized several districts, such as Latehar, Palamu, Garhwa, Chatra, and Gumla.
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In addition to the ₹15 lakh bounty announced by Jharkhand Police, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had offered ₹3 lakh for his capture, making him one of the most wanted Maoists in the country.
A native of Chhipadohar Sikid village in Latehar, Chhotu served on the CPI (Maoist) regional committee. His recent activities included expanding Maoist influence in the Koel and Shankh zones after fleeing Budha Pahad, a former Maoist stronghold, during last year’s ‘Operation Octopus’ by security forces.
Moreover, Chhotu actively committed heinous crimes, including murdering a daily wage worker in Chhipadohar. Police had issued public notices against him, demanding his court appearance within 30 days in August.
In 2016, the Balumath police seized ₹3 lakh from Chandan Kumar, a Chit Fund manager, who revealed the money belonged to Chhotu. Investigations uncovered a deposit slip showing Chhotu had invested ₹26 lakh, prompting the NIA to take over the case in January 2018.
Authorities further arrested the Maoist leader’s wife, Lalita Devi, in 2019 for laundering Maoist funds, exposing the financial network that supported insurgent activities.
Chhotu’s killing highlights deepening divisions within Maoist ranks. Security experts view this as a major success for anti-insurgency operations in Jharkhand, where Maoist influence has been declining steadily.
Authorities are now focusing on dismantling remaining Maoist factions and securing peace in the affected regions.
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