Security forces in Jharkhand arrested four suspected cadres of the banned People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI) in Gumla district on Friday, seizing a cache of weapons and related items, police said.
Senior operative among those detained
Authorities identified one of the arrested persons as Vishram Kongadi, also known by the aliases Mota and Sukura, described by police as a zonal commander of the organisation. From the quartet, officers recovered a country-made pistol, two magazines, a country-made rifle, another country-made firearm, seven cartridges, one empty cartridge case, banned pamphlets and four mobile phones, the police statement said.
Separate recovery in Latehar forest
In a related operation, a joint search by the police and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) in the forested area of Mahuadandh in Latehar district resulted in the recovery of two rifles, 63 cartridges and materials believed to be connected with improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Investigations are underway to trace who concealed the weaponry in the forest, police added.
Operations prompted by tip-off
Officials said the Gumla arrests followed a tip-off indicating that PLFI members were planning a major criminal act near Bongada village, which falls under the Kamdara police station jurisdiction. Search operations continue as investigators work to establish links, networks and intended targets.
| Location | Items recovered | Quantities / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gumla | Country-made pistol, country-made rifle, another country-made firearm, magazines, cartridges, banned pamphlets, mobile phones | 2 magazines; 7 cartridges; 1 empty cartridge case; 4 mobile phones |
| Latehar (Mahuadandh forest) | Rifles, cartridges, IED-related material | 2 rifles; 63 cartridges; materials linked to IEDs |
Security and investigative response
Police officials said follow-up searches and inquiries are underway in both districts. The involvement of the SSB in Latehar reflects the continuing coordination between state police and central paramilitary units in countering armed groups in forested tracts of Jharkhand.
- Arrests: Four suspected PLFI members detained in Gumla, including a zonal commander.
- Seizures: Firearms, magazines, cartridges, pamphlets and mobile phones recovered in Gumla; rifles, large ammunition cache and IED-related material recovered in Latehar.
- Investigations: Probe is ongoing to determine planned actions, identify accomplices and the origin of weapons hidden in forest areas.
The PLFI has been a focus of sustained security operations in Jharkhand. Law-enforcement agencies routinely conduct targeted raids, intelligence-led arrests and forest searches following leads to pre-empt violent activity and disrupt armed group logistics. Authorities emphasised that the current actions were part of that ongoing counter-extremism effort.
Local police in the affected districts have appealed to residents to remain alert and to share any information about suspicious movements or caches with the nearest police station. Investigators said recovered mobile phones and the pamphlets will be examined to map communication networks and propaganda distribution channels.
Detailed forensic examination of the weapons and IED-related materials is expected to follow, which could provide leads on supply routes and manufacturing methods used by the group. The outcomes of these technical enquiries will guide further operations and possible criminal charges under relevant provisions dealing with unlawful arms, explosives and membership of a banned organisation.
Searches and sweeps are continuing in both Gumla and Latehar districts as teams work to locate additional suspects and material. Police said they will share more details as investigations progress.
