Guwahati, Sept. 20 -- The chief of the banned Maoist organisation Tritiya Prastuti Committee (TPC), Brijesh Ganjhu, alias Gopal Singh Bhokta, was killed in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in Varanasi early Sunday, Jharkhand Police said.

IG (STF) Prem Gautam briefed Jharkhand Police about the operation and confirmed Ganjhu's death. A combined reward of Rs 30 lakh had been announced for his arrest, with the Jharkhand government offering Rs 25 lakh and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Rs 5 lakh.

According to senior Jharkhand Police officials, the encounter took place at around 5 a.m. at Lanka Maidan near Tengra More under the Ramnagar police station area of Varanasi.

The UP ATS said it had received in...