Ransom Demand Leads to Arrest of Naxals, Including Notorious Pawan Ganjhu

Law enforcement in Jharkhand has arrested four Naxals linked to a one-crore-rupee extortion attempt targeting a Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) employee. The CPI (Maoist) Koyal-Shankh Zone Committee is believed to be behind the threat. The arrested individuals include Yogendra Ganjhu, also known as Pawan Ganjhu, who is notorious for his violent actions, including planting a bomb in the body of a deceased soldier. A special team was formed by Ranchi SSP Chandan Kumar Sinha to investigate the matter. Acting on intelligence, the team conducted a raid in the Buxy Bangla Chatti river area under the Khalari police station, which resulted in the arrests of Yogendra Ganjhu, Mukesh Ganjhu, Rajkumar Nahak, and Manu Ganjhu. Recovered during the raid were a loaded country-made pistol, three live cartridges, and other incriminating materials. The extortion demand was made on June 25, 2025, targeting a CCL employee. Following the incident, the victim filed an FIR at the Khalari police station. Yogendra Ganjhu, is wanted in connection with multiple serious cases across several districts of Jharkhand. He is accused of planting a bomb in the body of a police jawan following a 2013 encounter in the Katia forest area of Garu police station in Latehar. Pawan Ganjhu joined the organization in 2006 and became the area commander of the Garu-Saryu region. He became a sub-zonal commander in 2009. After being arrested in 2012, he briefly distanced himself from the organization. However, driven by financial difficulties, he rejoined the Naxal group and resumed extortion activities targeting business owners, contractors, and coal traders. The ransom demand made to the CCL employee is one example of his recent activities.