Body of one Maoist recovered, two held in Bengal

KOLKATA - Body of a suspected Maoist was recovered and two members of Left wing guerrillas’ action squad arrested in West Bengal Saturday, police said.

The police recovered the body of a suspected Maoist from a well in Chhotokalsidanga forest. “He had a cartridge belt in his waist which shows he was involved in combat,” West Midnapore Superintendent of Police Manoj Verma said.

The security forces also arrested two Maoists, Sanatan Pal and Prashanta Patra from Jahrgram sub-division. The duo was Saturday brought before a court which remanded them to police custody till April 4.

“Pal is a big catch. He was involved in all big and small Maoist raids in Belpahari and Banspahari areas in the last three years,” Verma said.

Meanwhile, heavily armed Maoists torched vehicles at Ranibandh in Bankura district after asking the passengers to get down. No one was injured, district Superintendent of Police Vishal Garg told IANS.

In West Midnapore, the rebels exchanged heavy gunfire with the security forces in various jungle areas including Chhotokalsidanga and Jamboni, where the ultras also triggered a landmine.