Four Naxals, Including Pawan Ganjhu, Arrested for CCL Employee Extortion

Police in Jharkhand have apprehended four Naxals in connection with a one-crore-rupee extortion demand from a Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) employee. The arrested individuals are allegedly part of the CPI (Maoist) Koyal-Shankh Zone Committee. Among those arrested is Yogendra Ganjhu, also known as Pawan Ganjhu, who is known for his extreme violence, particularly the alleged act of planting a bomb in a slain soldier’s body. The arrests were made by a special team under the direction of Ranchi SSP Chandan Kumar Sinha after they were tipped off. The arrests took place in the Buxy Bangla Chatti river area of the Khalari police station. The individuals apprehended were Yogendra Ganjhu, Mukesh Ganjhu, Rajkumar Nahak, and Manu Ganjhu. Authorities seized a loaded country-made pistol, three live cartridges, and various other incriminating items during the operation. The extortion demand, made on June 25, 2025, targeted an employee working in the general manager’s office of CCL. The victim subsequently filed a first information report (FIR) at the Khalari police station. Yogendra Ganjhu faces numerous serious charges across different districts of Jharkhand. He is accused of the heinous act of planting a bomb within the body of a police jawan during a 2013 encounter in the Katia forest, located in the Garu police station area of Latehar. Pawan Ganjhu became involved with the Naxal group in 2006 and became the area commander of the Garu-Saryu region. He ascended to sub-zonal commander in 2009. He was apprehended in 2012, but later left the organization. Financial constraints motivated his return to the group, leading him to engage in extortion activities targeting businessmen, contractors, and coal traders. The recent ransom demand from the CCL employee is part of this pattern of extortion.