A key leader of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) carrying a Rs 1 crore reward on his head wasamong 15 suspected Maoists killed in a gunfight with security forces in the Saranda forest area of Jharkhand’sWest Singhbhum district on Thursday, The Hindu reported.

Anal alias Patriam Manjhi alias Toofan Da, a central committee member of the banned group, had been on the radar of security forces since 1987.

He, along with 15 others, was killed in thegunfight near Kumbhdih village under the Chotanagra police station limits during aspecial operation being conducted by the Central Reserve Police Force’s Commando Battalion for Resolute Action, or the CoBRA unit, and the district police, The Indian Express reported.

The operation was continuing on Friday.

Jharkhand Inspector General (Operations) Michaelraj S said that the gunfight began around 6.30 am. He alleged that the suspected Maoists started firing indiscriminately and the security forces retaliated in self-defence, The Hindu reported.

The police officer added that 15 bodies and a large quantity of weapons had been recovered so far.

“Preliminary investigations have identified 11 of the 15 deceased Maoists, including Anal, who was not only carrying a reward of Rs 1 crore in Jharkhand but Rs 1.2 crore reward in Odisha and Rs 15 lakh reward by the National Investigation Agency,” The Hindu quoted Michaelraj as saying.

The inspector general added that there were...

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