Hazaribagh, Sept. 15 -- In a significant blow to Left Wing Extremism, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Jharkhand Police on Monday morning eliminated three top Naxal leaders in an encounter in Hazaribagh district. The trio together carried rewards worth Rs 1.35 crore.

Those neutralized in the gun battle have been identified as Sahadev Soren, a Central Committee Member of Naxals carrying a bounty of Rs 1 crore; Raghunath Hembram, a Special Area Committee Member with a reward of Rs 25 lakh; and Virsen Ganjhu, a Zonal Committee Member carrying a reward of Rs 10 lakh.

The operation was carried out jointly by the 209 CoBRA battalion of CRPF and Jharkhand Police in the Pantitri forest of Gorhar area, Hazaribagh, following specific i...