People's Democracy

Absconding Maoist Murderers Apprehended

TWO leading members of a Maoist hit squad (dalam) were arrested from a private nursing home at Bankura town late into the night of September 28. Bansilal Sardar and his companion-at-arms Sumitra Sardar, both involved in the dastardly killing of CPI(M) workers over the year in Bankura and Purulia, had taken a ‘safe haven’ there for sometime following the former Maoist leader receiving serious injuries from an explosive-related ‘accident.’ Two other armed Maoist hit squad members made good their getaway through the fire escape at the back of the nursing home. They had been on watch duty in front of the cabin where the Sardar duo had been put up.

The Bengal CPI(M) has repeatedly noted that the duo led the killer dalam from the front that assassinated CPI(M) workers Rampada Majhi, Raghunath Murmu, Bablu Mudi, Gatilal Tudu, poor kisans all, and a police officer, inspector Prabal Sengupta of the Barikul police station. The Sardars were also connected with other killings and murder attempts on CPI(M) workers in the two districts noted, and perhaps beyond the district borders.

Just before the police personnel in mufti entered the nursing home, Sumitra Sardar attempted to destroy diaries, note books, and other Maoist documents. She was foiled before she could actually get rid of the papers. It was revealed from the documents seized how they had planned the killing the CPI(M) workers, scheduling the gruesome acts of violence over a lengthy period. The documents also revealed that the Maoists had plans to blow up several police stations in Bankura, Purulia, and Midnapore west in the coming months. (B P)