Suspected Maoist killed in Bengal

JOYBANKI - A suspected Maoist was killed in a gunbattle Friday when security personnel conducted a raid near this village in West Midnapore district in connection with the May 28 Gyaneshwari Express train tragedy, police said.

Security personnel said a few Maoists were either killed or sustained serious bullet injuries in Indraboni forest near Joybanki in the Jhargram area, 160 km from Kolkata. But no bodies were recovered.

Villagers, however, say an innocent villager was killed.

Mukesh Kumar, additional superintendent of police (operation), Jhargram, said: “Acting on a tip off that Umakanto Mahato, one of the prime accused in the Gyaneshwari Express tragedy, had taken a shelter in Joybanki, a search operation was conducted Friday morning.

“The left rebels hiding in the forest started firing at the security personnel, who retaliated. The gunbattle continued for a few hours in which one Maoist cadre was said to have been killed but we are yet to recover his body.

“Another sustained bullet injuries and has been admitted to Jhargram sub-division hospital,” said Kumar.

“Following the gunbattle, a search operation was conducted in the area and seven people, who are members of the (tribal body) Peoples’ Committee Against Police Atrocities and its militant wing were arrested. One single barrel gun and several rounds of ammunition were recovered from them,” claimed Kumar.

He said no security personnel were injured and a search operation was being carried out.

“We had specific information that Goutam Rana, a top Maoist leader who was earlier arrested and released later on bail, had taken shelter with Umakanta in Joybanki village. But both Umakanta and Rana managed to escape,” said a senior police officer.

Locals, however, say an innocent villager of Joybanki - Bikram Mahato - was killed during the gunbattle. They also complained that police have arrested several villagers.

“Bikram was innocent, he ws present in the village when security personnel conducted the raid and he got shot,” a villager told IANS.

Around 148 people were killed in the May 28 train tragedy which is suspected to have been caused by Maoists.