Suspected Maoist leader arrested in West Bengal, arms seized

MATHURAPUR - A suspected Maoist leader was arrested during a search operation in West Bengal’s West Midnapore district on Thursday.

During the combing operation conducted by the central paramilitary forces and the state police, the leader arrested.

The joint forces also seized a huge cache of weapons those looted by the Maoists during an attack on the Eastern Frontier Rifles’ Shilda camp on February 15.

“Yesterday we commenced the special operation at two places that ended today. The rest of the forces are expected to return anytime today. The two locations where we conducted the operation was under Salboni Police Station at a place named Mathurapur and also the adjoining forest area. We recovered six rifles-12 bore with 17 rounds, medicines. Also there was ammunition - 8 mm 55 rounds, 9 mm 20 rounds and leaflets. We have apprehended a person named Jawaharlal Mahato who now in our custody,” said Manoj Verma, Superintendent of Police Medinipur.

West Bengal is among the worst affected by Maoist violence.

Earlier, the Maoists killed at least 76 CRPF personnel in Chhattisgarh.

The ambush by over 700 Maoist ultras in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh on Tuesday has highlighted their strong presence across large swathes of India, especially the remote rural areas. (ANI)