CPI-M activist killed by Maoists in Bengal

KOLKATA - A Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) activist was shot dead in West Bengal’s West Midnapore district by suspected Maoists Wednesday afternoon, police said.

The victim - Srikanto Mondal, an employee of Sebayatan Girls’ High School - was shot in front of the school gate. Mandol’s parents, who were with him at the time of the incident, also sustained bullet injuries and were admitted to a hospital.

“The modus operandi suggests that ultra left rebels were behind the crime,” said Superintendent of Police Praveen Tripathi.

An assistant teacher of the school said: “Around 12.30 p.m., a gang of six miscreants shot Mondal.”

Maoists had Tuesday threatened Mondal that he will be killed if he did not stop participating in the night patrolling and anti-Maoists movement launched by the local CPI-M supporters.

Earlier also, several school teachers have been killed by the Maoists within the school premises - the latest being the murder of Ananta Mukherjee, CPI-M zonal committee member and clerical staff of Silda High School.

With the increase in such incidents, the teachers and students have demanded 24-hour security cover otherwise they will not attend the school.

Tripathi admitted that there has been an increase in the number of such cases. He, however, said: “It is not possible for us to provide security to individuals with the current strength.”

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