PCPA general secy, Maoist cadre arrested in West Midnapore

Press Trust Of India
Midnapore, September 04, 2010

First Published: 20:06 IST(4/9/2010)
Last Updated: 20:18 IST(4/9/2010)

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In a major success for the joint forces, general secretary of People's Committee Against Police Atrocities, Manoj Mahato, and another Maoist cadre were arrested during massive operations in West Midnapore district, a senior police official said today. Mahato and Nabakumar Mahato were arrested 

during the operations that began yesterday and ended this afternoon in
Lalgarh, Salboni and parts of Kotwali police station areas, SP Manoj Verma told reporters here.

"Both Manoj and Nabakumar are big catches for the joint forces and we hope we will be able to catch some of the
other top leaders who are still at large, in the coming days," he said.

According to Verma, Mahato was named in seven FIRs and there are another 15 cases against him.

Verma said the charges against Mahato are sedition, murder and a case of violation of section 144 CrPC.

He said a 9 mm pistol and six bullets were seized from Mahato who would be produced in a court tomorrow. Police custody would be sought for him.

Some of Mahato's accomplices fled during the raid, Verma said.

Asked if Mahato, who became the general secretary after Asit Mahato was removed from the post by the PCPA, would be booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, Verma said there was no case of UAPA against him, but it would be looked into.

On whether Mahato was involved in the May 28 Jnaneswari disaster, he said "I have no idea if the CBI which is investigating the case has any case against him."

Asked about Mahato's relations with the Maoists, Verma said, "There is no difference between the PCPA and the Maoists. We have evidence that Mahato was directly involved with the Maoists. We believe the PCPA is a frontal organisation of Maoists."

Referring to Sidhu Soren, chief of PCPA's armed wing Sidhu-Kanhu Gana Militia who was killed during a raid by CRPF and joint forces in Golatore area of the district on July 25, he said he too was a Maoist.

There were two cases of murder in 2006 and 2009 against arrested Maoist Nabakumar Mahato at the Lalgarh police station. He was arrested from Borodhamsole in the district.

Asked about the surrender of Maoists and PCPA cadre, he said he expected a number of them would surrender in the next two to three days. To a question about areas where the Maoists and PCPA still held sway, Verma said these were Goaltore, Sarenga, Salboni, Pirakata and some portions of Kotwali police station areas.

Questioned about the existence of camps of alleged armed CPI-M cadre in the district, Verma evaded a direct reply saying, "I can say we have taken action against carrying arms in the district."

(hindustantimes)

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