People's Democracy

Trinamul Congress Leader Arrested

After Admitting Injured Maoists in Cuttack Hospital

Yet another instance of the nexus between the Trinamul Congress and the Maoists in West Bengal has recently come to light.

Suspicious of the circumstances involving two seriously injured persons being admitted to the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, the Orissa Police had questioned a person accompanying them on January 8, 2011. The person had claimed that the duo were “innocent villagers” who had accidentally fallen victim to a “tiffin box” explosion in a forest near Jhargram in West Bengal. But the fact that they had traveled about 350 km from Jhargram to reach Cuttack, without bothering to take preliminary treatment anywhere in Bengal, triggered suspicion. 

Upon interrogation it became clear that the patients admitted to the hospital, Manik Soren and Deben Marandi, were Maoists who were injured in a bomb explosion in Didiha forest in Jhargram, a few days back. The accompanying person was Karmu Mahato, a Trinamul Congress leader from Jhargram. The Orissa Police detained Karmu Mahato and informed the West Bengal Police, who sent a team of officers to Orissa. Upon joint interrogation by the West Bengal and Orissa police, Karmu Mahato revealed his political identity.

Karmu Mahato is accused in at least two cases relating to murder and sedition in West Bengal. He was arrested on January 10 for sheltering and aiding Maoists and for a series of blasts in Didiha forest in Jangalmahal on December 5, 2010. Mahato, a native of Kalian village, has been brought to Jhargram on transit remand by the team of West Bengal police. 

One of the two patients — Deben Marandi — has been identified as a hardcore Maoist, an expert bomb-maker and a close aide of Maoist squad leader Jayanta. The injured Maoists could not be interrogated because their condition is critical.

(INN)