Maoists kill CPI-M supporter in West Bengal

KOLKATA - A Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) supporter was killed and a suspected Maoist linkman arrested in two separate incidents in West Bengal’s West Midnapore district Saturday.

“A CPI-M supporter, Choton Mahato of Chandebila village in Kotwali police station area, was found shot dead early Saturday. He was dragged out of his house by a gang of armed Maoists Friday night,” West Midnapore’s Superintendent of Police Manoj Verma said.

The ultra left rebels carried out a series of subversive attacks in several areas in the district’s Jhargram sub division.

In Bhowadi village near Dharampur, the rebels triggered two landmine blasts in a forest beat office, blowing up a major portion of the building.

A commandant of the paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) said: “Early Saturday we heard a huge explosion but fearing that the rebels had planted more landmines in the area we did not proceed towards the spot in the dark.”

“We have recovered several Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and wires from the area. The building was badly damaged and all the documents kept in the forest beat office have been destroyed,” said the commandant.

The Maoists also set ablaze a wooden bridge over a ditch in Chaltabera village near Nayagram, to prevent the entry of the joint forces in the villages, Jhargram police chief Praveen Tripathi said.

“Acting on specific information that the Maoists have taken shelter in the forest near Nayagram, the joint forces conducted raids in the area Friday night and Saturday morning,” said Tripathi.

He also said that a Maoist linkman, Lakshmikanta Soren was arrested from the area by the security forces Saturday after a search operation.

“It was learnt that Lakshmikanta was a Maoist sympathiser and the rebels used to hold regular meetings in his house,” said the police chief.

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