Mahato, also known as Sandesh, was killed when he and his accomplice, who were on a motorcycle, opened fire on a police patrol at Hakpada-2, Sanhaitha in Siraha, according to Ramesh Kharel, the district police chief.
Mahato was one of the influential men in the Tarai armed conflict and on the top of the most wanted list by the district police, according to Kharel.
Mahato´s friend fled away leaving the motorcycle without a registration plate. Mahato was a permanent resident of Kasaha, Ayodhyanagar of Siraha.
He was military commander of the United Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha, another armed outfit, before he formed a separate outfit. After his suspension from the Morcha, he was elected the chairman of the MRJP-R formed by an alliance of six armed outfits.
Mahato´s outfit murdered four in Siraha alone in last seven months, according to Devraj Pokharel, the district representative of INSEC.
In recent times, police had shot dead two other activists of the outfit -- Siraha commander Ram Narayan Yadav aka Karan Singh and Indal Mahato.
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