A wanted Maoist leader with a reward of ₹5 lakh on his head was shot dead in a gunfight with security forces in Jharkhand’s Latehar district, PTI reported quoting a senior police officer on Monday.

Another Maoist was arrested during the same operation.

The clash between the security forces and the CPI (Maoist) rebels happened in a forest area in Dauna, under the Mauhadand Police Station, late Sunday night.

“Manish Yadav, who was carrying a reward of ₹5 lakh on his head, was killed in the gunfight with security forces. Another Maoist Kundan Kherwar was arrested,” Palamu Deputy Inspector General YS Ramesh told PTI.

The operation came just two days after two other Maoists were killed in the district, including Pappu Lohra, the chief of the JJMP group, who had a bounty of ₹10 lakh.