3 PLFI ultras killed in encounter with police

Acting on a tip-off that Gope along with his squad members had assembled in Tonia Kullatuttu jungle to commit a crime, a police team reached the spot, police said.

The ultras started firing on the police team, forcing the police to retaliate, Superintendent of Police, Rajiv Ranjan Singh said, adding three PLFI activists were killed in the encounter while Gope suffered injuries and managed to escape.

The bodies of the three ultras have been recovered, he said.

The security personnel have recovered an AK47, Light Machine Gun (LMG), carbine and daily core items, Singh said.

Police fired around 300 rounds in response to the firing by the ultras during the encounter that lasted for one and a half hour, the SP said.

Security personnel comprising the CRPF and district police have launched a massive search operation in the area.

Singh, who inspected the area after the incident, said more ultras might still be hiding in the area, but expressed confidence that they would be nabbed soon.