Five Maoists arrested in West Bengal

KOLKATA - Five Maoists have been arrested in West Bengal, police said Sunday.

While four Maoist cadres were arrested from Purulia district early Sunday, another rebel was arrested from West Midnapore district Saturday night.

Purulia district police superintendent Rajesh Yadav said: “Four Maoists cadres - Gunda Singh Murmu, Lakshi Kanta Murmu, Abhiram Das and Choton Khotowal — were arrested from Jhalda today (Sunday). They were produced before a local court and remanded to five-day police custody.”

“The cadres were active in the Ayodhya Hill area and planned to carry out a strike. We will interrogate them to know whereabouts of their associates,” the officer said.

Meanwhile, Birsha Soren (25), a member of the Sidhu Kanu Gana Militia, the militant wing of the pro-Maoist People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA) was arrested from Goaltore area of West Midnapore district.

He was produced before the Midnapore District Court and remanded to six-day’s judicial custody, said a police officer of West Midnapore district.

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