Jharkhand, Sep 24: Three Maoists linked to the banned outfit Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad (JJMP) were gunned down in an encounter with police on Wednesday morning in Jharkhand.

The three slain men have been identified as Lalu Lohra, Chhotu Oraon, and Sujeet Oraon. Both Lalu Lohra and Chhotu Oraon were sub-zonal commanders of JJMP and carried a reward of Rs 5 lakh each on their heads. The third, Sujeet Oraon, was an active cadre of the same group. Lohra was a resident of Lohardaga district, while Chhotu hailed from Latehar and Sujeet from Lohardaga.

According to reports, the encounter took place in the dense forests of Kechki under the Bishunpur police station limits in Gumla district.

Sophisticated weapons, including an AK-47 rifle, multiple other firearms and ammunition were recovered from the trio.

A search and combing operation is currently underway in the surrounding forest areas to ensure no other insurgents are hiding nearby.

This encounter marks the fourth such anti-Maoist operation in Jharkhand this month, bringing the total number of Naxals killed in September to eight.