Two killed by Maoists in West Bengal

KOLKATA - Two men, including a Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) supporter, were killed by suspected Maoists in West Bengals West Midnapore district, police said Thursday.

“Bagmari primary school teacher and CPI-M supporter Gurucharan Mahato was found dead Thursday morning near Patasimul village in Jhargram. The local people informed us and a police team was sent there to take custody of his body,” said West Midnapore Police Superintendent Manoj Verma.

“Gurucharan was shot dead and some Maoist posters claiming responsibility were found on the spot. The posters stated that he was given capital punishment for acting as a police informer, he added.

Another body was also found in the Kandokata forest of Nayagram area of the Jhargram sub-division. The body was yet to be identified. The victim was strangulated to death and there may be other people involved behind the crime, said Verma.

We have initiated an investigation to find out the culprits, he said Verma.

Meanwhile, Maoists and the joint forces exchanged fire for two hours in the morning in Kanyabali forest near Salboni area. However, no injury was reported.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (Operation) Aneesh Sarkar said: “Acting on information that rebels second rank leader Bikash and his members are hiding in the forest, the joint forces attacked. The Maoists retaliated and the gun fight continued over two hours.

“Though they managed to flee, we recovered four highly explosive directional landmines and some ammunition,” he said.

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