Pro-Maoist activist killed in Bengal

KOLKATA - A member of a pro-Maoist tribal group was killed by unidentified miscreants in West Bengals West Midnapore district, police said Sunday.

The Trinamool Congress claimed that the victim was its supporter and was killed by hooligans backed by the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M).

Sanatan Hembram was beaten up with sharp weapons and he died on way to Jhargram hospital,” said West Midnapore Superintendent of Police Manoj Verma.

A Trinamool Congress leader claimed he was a party supporter but that he was an active member of a pro-Maoist tribal bodys armed wing, he said.

Maoist leader Dilip Mahato arrested earlier, had shared his name and confirmed that Sanatan was an active member of the Peoples Committee Against Police Atrocities’ (PCAPA) armed wing, said Verma.

Trinamool MP Subhendhu Adhikari rushed to West Midnapore and alleged that Sanatan was killed by the armed cadres of the CPI-M with the help of police.

Sanatan was hacked and shot at by motorcycle-borne CPI-M cadres, while he was working in the filed at his village, alleged Adhikari.

Later in the evening, Trinamool staged a demonstration outside the office of the superintendent of police.

In another incident, Maoists set ablaze a vehicle at Ranarani village near Jhargram early Sunday. Maoist posters claiming responsibility for the crime were found at the spot.