Four suspected Maoists were detained by the joint-security forces personnel during a raid at Salboni in West Midnapore, in West Bengal, on Sunday. Huge quantities of arms and explosives were recovered from them. The raid was carried out at Purnapani forest at around 1 pm after the district police got a tip-off in the morning that a group of rebels had taken shelter there for an operation.
Refusing to disclose the identities of the suspects, superintendent of police (West Midnapore) Manoj Kumar Verma in the evening said, “We have detained the four and interrogating them to know their Maoist link.” Three landmines, around 6 kg gunpowder, a revolver and several cartridges were seized from them, Mr Verma added.
In another incident, three rebels were arrested by the police at Baromile of Ranibandh in Bankura. The accused were identified as Shyampada Mahato, Bhairab Mandi and Satyalal Tudu. Three 9 mm pistols were seized from each of them apart from Maoist posters and leaflets, said a district police officer. Official sources revealed that the three were involved in the killing of CPI(M) leaders. Meanwhile, PCPA leader Manoj Mahato was sent to two weeks’ jail custody by additional chief judicial magistrate Sheikh Mohammed Rezza at the Jhargram court rejecting his police remand as well as bail prayer.
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‘Left never supported Maoists’
Salem (TN) : CPI(M) politbureau member Sitaram Yechury on Sunday took exception to Tamil Nadu chief minister M. Karunanidhi’s remarks linking the party to the Naxal issue, saying his party had never supported the rebels.
“In all the CPI(M) ruled states in the country, the Maoists were banned and it is strange that an experienced politician like Mr Karunanidhi is making such an incorrect statement”, Mr Yechury said addressing a public meeting here on Saturday night.
“Somebody might have misled Mr Karunanidhi by giving factually incorrect informations”, he said, adding, “CPI(M) had no affinity toward the Maoists who pursued a path of violence”.
Taking a swipe at Left parties, Mr Karunanidhi had on Friday said they had questioned the Centre when it clamped a ban on Maoists.
Tracing the origin of Maoist movement to Naxalism in West Bengal, he had said Naxalites emerged as an offshoot of CPI-M on the ground that a revolution could not be brought about through ballots. —PTI