Six Maoists arrested in West Bengal

KOLKATA - Six Maoists were arrested Monday evening in West Bengal’s West Midnapore district, police said.

Six Maoist cadres identified as Baneshwar Pramanik, Bhagirath alias Putul, Biren Mordhanno, Patel Murmu of Bhulabheda village and Sashadhar Karmakar and Amit Mahato were arrested during search operation buy the joint forces from Bhulabheda village of Belpahari area under Jhargram sub-division of the district, said Jhargram police district Superintendent Praveen Tripathi.

“All were members of Madan Mahato’s squad, which was active in Belpahari area. Among the arrested Baneshwar was a prime catch as he was wanted in at least 10 cases including sedition, loot and damaging government properties,” said the police official.

One fire arm, two landmines and ammunition and Maoist posters were recovered from them.

“After checking their background thoroughly we have arrested them in the evening. We will interrogate them further to know whereabouts of the other members. All the arrested Maoist cadres will be produced before the court Tuesday morning,” said Tripathi.

Meanwhile, the members of the Peoples’ Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA), who were observing a shutdown in several pockets of the district, put up a banner on the railway tracks Monday afternoon, following which train services along the Kharagpur-tatanagar and Kharagpur-Rourkela routes of South Eastern Railway (SER) were disrupted.

Police said, the PCAPA members put up the banner on the railway tracks at Banstola station near Jhargram.

Train services along the routes were suspended considering the security and safety of the passengers.

Train services again resumed after five hours, when the security personnel comprising Railway Protection Force (RPF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and state police gave security clearance following a thorough search operation along the tracks.

Following the disruption, the Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express from Bhubaneshwar and Geetanjali Express were detained at Kharagpur and Jakpur stations respectively, said the spokesperson of the SER.

He said the train services were resumed after five hours under security cover.

The PCAPA members were observing last day of their 48-hours shut down demanding withdrawl of joint forces from the Junglemahal (forested Maoist affected areas of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia). The Maoists are active in three western district of the state - West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura.