Bihar: Maoist killed in Lakhisarai, arms seized

PATNA: A notorious Maoist, Pramod Koda, was neutralised in an encounter with security forces at Chaura in Lakhisarai district late Saturday night. An AK-47, more than 100 live ammunition, two IEDs and at least three detonators were recovered from his possession. Koda, along with his associates, was fleeing after kidnapping a PDS dealer’s son for Rs1 crore ransom. The kidnapped youth, Deepak Prasad (24), was yet to be rescued.A massive joint operation is on in certain parts of Lakhisarai, Jamui and Munger districts to recover him.
The Special Task Force (STF) and Maoists exchanged over 200 rounds of fire.
Koda (37), an accused in at least 10 cases of Maoist violence and evaded arrest, belonged to Lathia under Piri Bazaar police station area in Lakhisarai. Piri Bazaar police station SHO Prajesh Kumar Dubey said armed Maoists attacked the house of PDS dealer Bhagwat Prasad at Chaukara and kidnapped his son Deepak. “Police were immediately informed after which Maoists were chased. The Maoists were asked to release Deepak and surrender, but they opened fire,” Dubey said.
Dubey said after more than an hour of gunbattle, one group of Maoists fled towards Amrasani and another towards Kajra through the Chaura hills.
Lakhisarai SP Santosh Kumar said a combing operation was on to safely recover Deepak. “We are also taking help of Jamui and Munger police,” he added.