Maoist, aide arrested in West Bengal

KOLKATA - A Maoist wanted in a murder case and his associate have been arrested in West Bengal’s Bankura district, police said Friday.

Sunil Mahato, the Maoist squad member, was arrested from the house of a person identified as Anil Mahato in Dhanbhori village near Barikul in Bankura Thursday late night. Anil was also arrested for providing shelter to Sunil, a police official said.

Both Sunil and Anil were produced before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Khatra Friday and remanded to five days police custody, he said.

Bankura Police Superintendent Pranav Kumar said: “Acting on a tip-off, the officer-in-charge of Barikul police station raided Anil’s house and arrested Sunil. Sunil was a Maoist squad member.”

“Anil was also arrested for providing shelter to Sunil, who is wanted in many cases including the killing of Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) supporter Samir Pal two months back. Later, after investigation it was found that Anil was also a Maoist linkman, who used to provide information to the rebels,” he added.

A firearm and several rounds of cartridges were recovered from Sunil, said Kumar.

During investigations, it was found that Anil is the husband of Sulekha Mahato, Trinamool Congress leader and head of Samshundarpur gram panchayat (village council), a senior police officer said.

“But Sulekha was not arrested as she was not present in the house when police conducted the raid,” the officer said.

Maoists are active in parts of three western districts - West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia.