Varanasi, Sept. 20 -- Senior Naxal leader and chief of banned Jharkhand-based outfit Tritiya Prastuti Committee (TPC) Brijesh Ganjhu alias Gopal Singh Bhokta, who was wanted in 39 cases involving charges of murder, attempt to murder, extortion, criminal conspiracy, arms offences and provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), was killed in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh ATS in Varanasi on Sunday morning, police said.

Ganjhu, who carried a reward of Rs 30 lakh, was named as an accused in cases registered across several police stations in Jharkhand, including Simaria, Tandwa, Lawalong, Sadar, Piparwar, Pathalgadda, Mayurhand, Gidhaur, Hunterganj and Vashishthnagar police stations, according to police records.

The c...