Maoist arrested for murder of local Communist leader in Jhargram, W. Benga

Jhargram, Nov 6 (ANI): A Maoist militant was arrested for his role in the murder of a local leader of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) in Jhargram region of Paschim Medinapur district of West Bengal on Saturday.

It was suspected that Maoist militants murdered the local leader of CPM Manik Mandi from the Jamboni block during afternoon hours.

Mandi was shot by the militants at a road near the Khuprakhupi village .The police swung into action and arrested the spokesperson of the banned Maoist outfit People's Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCPA), Joydeb Mahato from the village Chakua for his alleged role the killing of Manik Mandi.Mahato was arrested along with two other suspected militants who were identified as Apurba Bhukta and Santanu Mahato.The trio was presented at the local court in Jhargram after which they were remanded to seven days of police custody.The spokesperson of PCPA, Joydeb Mahato termed his party's activities, as part of a mass movement that he said would prolong till justice is rendered to the exploited village folk.Mahato alleged that the police tortured him after his arrest from the Chakua village, " The police asked me about my various Maoist links. It is not possible that my arrest will hamper anything. It is a mass movement and it will continue anyhow," said Mahato.Meanwhile, the police are on the lookout for other clues in the case and further investigation in the case is in progress.At the same time the local outfit of CPM has declared a 12-hour Bandh on Sunday as mark of protest against the murder of Mandi.Despite strong measures initiated by the central government to crush the ultras, the Maoist insurgency has gripped nearly one-third of the country in its violent tentacles, spreading into the interiors of 20 of India's 28 states.Recently, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram had termed the Left-wing extremism as 'a bigger challenge than terrorism'.

He recently promised that the federal government would help the state governments with funds, technology and security forces so that they are able to effectively fight against the Maoists. (ANI)