At least 17 people involved in sabotage: CBI

Another accused person,Bimal Mahato,who was also arrested with Bapi Mahato from Jamshedpur on June 19,disclosed the names of Maoists involved in his confessional statement to the magistrate.

The CBI fears that the Maoists might carry out a strike on its team between Lodhasuli and Jhargram during the production of the accused at Jhargram court. The Maoists might also attempt to kill the accused persons to eliminate any link with the outfit,it apprehends.

Bothra explained that there is a 15-km stretch of forests from Lodhasuli to Jhargram where the Maoists might explode land mines targeting the CBI team and the accused persons. The CBI team moved from Midnapore to Jhargram,taking adequate security measures for the accused persons.

But land mine strikes constitute a different kind of attack and the Maoists have carried out such strikes there on various occasions. So to ensure the security and safety of the accused persons,the CBI wants the production of the accused persons to be transferred from Jhargram to Kolkata.

Justice Asim Kumar Roy sought the CBI’s view on a possible transfer of the production from Jhargram court to Midnapore as the accused person are in Midnapore jail. To this,Bothra replied that the Midnapore court was their second choice.

On the other hand,Himansu De,counsel for the CBI,apprised the High Court of the fact that the Maoists blew up a culvert with a landmine on the state highway at Lodhasuli on Wednesday. Advocate Asish Roy,counsel for Bimal Mahato,pleaded that six courts were functioning at Jhargram but added that he has no objection if the production of the accused persons is transferred from Jhargram to Midnapore town.

He,however,opposed a transfer to Kolkata as it would be difficult to arrange lawyers for his client. To this,Justice Roy said that lawyers would be arranged for the defence and that the High Court would pass the necessary orders.

On Wednesday,no advocate appeared for the seven other accused who are currently lodged in Midnapore jail. Justice Roy asked the CBI to serve the copy of the petition and supplementary affidavit to the accused persons through the Midnapore jail superintendent.

The court also gave liberty to the CBI to file a supplementary affidavit on the details of the prevailing situation in the Jhargram areas. The case will come up for hearing on Monday.

Meanwhile,a CBI source said that the agency would file a chargesheet in the criminal court soon. Though the agency received part of the forensic test,it was reported to be waiting for the detailed report.