A violent clash between two factions of former Tritiya Sammelan Prastuti Committee (TSPC) rebels over a land deal and financial dispute turned deadly in a Maoist-affected village of Jharkhand's Chatra district, leading to two fatalities and two injuries, with police making one arrest.
Midnight Attack in Gendra Village
The incident occurred around midnight on December 28, 2025, at Gendra village under the Kunda police station limits. According to Chatra Superintendent of Police Sumit Kumar Agrawal, the violence stemmed from a long-standing feud between former TSPC ultra Divendra Ganjhu and former TSPC rebel-turned-RJD leader Shyam Bhokta.
The dispute centered on land purchase and financial transactions. Police stated that Divendra Ganjhu hatched a plan to eliminate Shyam Bhokta and arrived at Shyam's house with seven aides.
Fatal Turn of Events and Arrest
The situation escalated rapidly when villagers and family members confronted the attackers. In the ensuing melee, Divendra Ganjhu and his associate, Churaman Ganjhu, were beaten to death. The remaining assailants fled the scene.
SP Agrawal explained that the attackers initially mistook Gopal Ganjhu for Shyam Bhokta and shot him. When Shyam appeared, he was also fired upon. Both Shyam Bhokta and his brother-in-law Gopal Ganjhu sustained injuries and were admitted to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (Rims) in Ranchi.
Following the clash, police arrested Mohan Kumar, a resident of Purnadih village under Lawalong police station, who was identified as an accomplice of the deceased Divendra Ganjhu. Authorities seized significant evidence from the arrested accused, including:
- A country-made pistol
- A .315 bore live cartridge
- The motorcycle used in the crime
- A mobile phone
Criminal Backgrounds of Key Figures
Police investigations revealed that both Divendra Ganjhu and Shyam Bhokta were previously associated with the same squad of the TSPC, a Maoist splinter group. Their criminal histories are extensive.
Divendra Ganjhu was a wanted figure in 18 criminal cases across Chatra and Gaya districts. Shyam Bhokta is accused in four cases and is also an accused in a terror funding case currently being probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
The incident highlights the ongoing challenges of post-surrender violence and disputes involving former rebels in the region, particularly concerning land and financial matters. The police investigation into the clash and the search for the remaining fugitives is ongoing.
