Maoist held for role in teacher’s killing

KOLKATA - A Maoist activist involved in the killing of a primary school headmaster in West Bengal’s West Midnapore district was arrested Thursday evening, police said.

“Phatik Mahato, one of the prime accused in the murder case was arrested Thursday evening from Sardhia station,” Jhargram Superintendent of Police Praveen Tripathi said

“During investigation into the July 23 murder of 58-year-old Rabindranath Mahato, the headmaster of Indiraboni primary school, we came to know about the involvement of Kartik Dutta of Muraboni village near Manikpara. He was arrested Aug 2,” he added.

“During interrogation, Kartik named the three persons and their whereabouts, who committed the crime.”

Based on the leads provided by Kartik, Phatik was taken into custody.

Rabindranath Mahato was allegedly killed by the ultras as he had prevented the school students from joining rallies organised by the Maoist-backed People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA).

Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation, which is probing the May 28 Gyaneshwari express tragedy in which 148 passengers were killed, conducted raids in the houses of the prime accused, who are absconding after committing the crime.